The Treasury is doing no planning for a British exit from the European Union, Chancellor George Osborne has said as he claimed a renegotiation deal was growing nearer.

The Chancellor said the "essential pieces" of David Cameron's plan to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership were falling in to place, and claimed Germany and France were among an emerging consensus that the demands were "perfectly reasonable".

Speaking after talks with German counterpart Wolfgang Shauble in Berlin, the Chancellor said the changes sought by Britain could benefit the whole of the European Union.

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He also dismissed the prospect of a second referendum, insisting the vote - due to be held by the end of 2017 - would be the final say on the issue for a generation.

It came after London mayor Boris Johnson suggested a vote to leave could be used to negotiate a better deal to be put to the public.

Asked if the Treasury was drawing up a plan for a British exit, Mr Osborne told BBC2's Newsnight: "No, the Treasury is 100% now focused on achieving the renegotiation.

"That is where the resources of the Treasury are deployed."

Echoing the Prime Minister, Mr Osborne said he had not ruled out campaign to leave the EU should the renegotiation effort fail, but said he was "optimistic" that a satisfactory settlement would be agreed.

Read: What do other EU leaders make of Britain's reform plans?