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Ed Miliband says Labour will not commit to EU referendum Ed Miliband says Labour will not commit to EU referendum
(35 minutes later)
A future Labour government would not call an in/out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU unless it was being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels, Ed Miliband has said.A future Labour government would not call an in/out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU unless it was being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels, Ed Miliband has said.
In an article for the Financial Times, the Labour leader said his party "strongly believes Britain's future is in the EU". In a speech in London, the Labour leader said there was an "overwhelming economic case" for EU membership.
He also criticised the Conservatives' "damaging obsession" with EU policy. But he said he did not back an "inexorable" process of political union, and change was needed in the EU.
But Prime Minister David Cameron said only his party will "guarantee" a vote. Prime Minister David Cameron said only his party would "guarantee" a vote.
"By his own admission, Ed Miliband says it's unlikely there'll be an in/out referendum on Europe under Labour," the prime minister posted on Twitter.
Mr Miliband is currently unveiling more details in a speech in London.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander told the BBC that Labour's position was a "guarantee of a referendum in certain circumstances" rather than on the "arbitrary timetable" set out by the Conservatives.
While it was "unlikely" that a future Labour government would agree to transfer powers to Brussels during the next Parliament, it was not "impossible" given the uncertainty over the future direction of the eurozone.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband's policy was essentially a "compromise" between those in the party who did not want a future government to be "distracted" by the issue of Europe and those who argue that Labour cannot be seen as a "party of elites" setting their face against a vote on the issue in any circumstances.
Labour has previously backed holding a referendum if it is proposed that further powers are transferred to Brussels.Labour has previously backed holding a referendum if it is proposed that further powers are transferred to Brussels.
But the Labour leader has now clarified that this would be an in/out referendum.But the Labour leader has now clarified that this would be an in/out referendum.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Miliband's policy was essentially a "compromise" between those in the party who did not want a future government to be "distracted" by the issue of Europe and those who argue that Labour cannot be seen as a "party of elites" setting their face against a vote on the issue in any circumstances.
'Hugely excited''Hugely excited'
"This would not just be a referendum on the narrow question of whether to allow a transfer of powers from Britain to Brussels; as we have seen in other countries, such votes are too easily ignored," he wrote. Speaking at the London Business School, Mr Miliband said the UK was "being dragged to the exit door" under David Cameron and he was setting out a "clear lead" about when he believed a referendum would be appropriate.
"I am announcing that the next Labour government will legislate for a new lock.
"Not simply a referendum on any treaty change proposing a transfer of power, because there have been too many referenda like that in other countries which have been ignored, but a lock that guarantees that there will be no transfer of powers without an in-out referendum without a clear choice about whether Britain stays in the EU."
He also criticised Mr Cameron's promise of an in/out referendum in 2017, which he described as an "arbitrary timetable" ensuring that "a Conservative government would be dominated by an all-consuming and damaging obsession within his party about whether Britain should leave the EU".He also criticised Mr Cameron's promise of an in/out referendum in 2017, which he described as an "arbitrary timetable" ensuring that "a Conservative government would be dominated by an all-consuming and damaging obsession within his party about whether Britain should leave the EU".
Mr Miliband argued that reforms were required in the EU, including:Mr Miliband argued that reforms were required in the EU, including:
But these reforms could be achieved without a new treaty, he argued.But these reforms could be achieved without a new treaty, he argued.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander told the BBC that Labour's position was a "guarantee of a referendum in certain circumstances" rather than on the "arbitrary timetable" set out by the Conservatives.
While it was "unlikely" that a future Labour government would agree to transfer powers to Brussels during the next Parliament, it was not "impossible" given the uncertainty over the future direction of the eurozone.
The pro-European Labour peer and former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, who is also a former European commissioner, said there was "strong potential consensus" across the EU for the sort of reforms Mr Miliband was proposing.The pro-European Labour peer and former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, who is also a former European commissioner, said there was "strong potential consensus" across the EU for the sort of reforms Mr Miliband was proposing.
He said there would be an alliance to be made with other member states and strong potential for the Labour leader to argue and win his case on the reforms.
He told Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Miliband was neither ruling out a referendum nor "making an arbitrary commitment" to holding one, which he believed was the right position.He told Radio 4's Today programme that Mr Miliband was neither ruling out a referendum nor "making an arbitrary commitment" to holding one, which he believed was the right position.
"Don't have a referendum just for the sake of having one," Lord Mandelson added."Don't have a referendum just for the sake of having one," Lord Mandelson added.
"It would bring huge damage, a risk to investment and to our economy.""It would bring huge damage, a risk to investment and to our economy."
But Labour MP Keith Vaz said: "I'm very happy. It's hugely exciting because this is the first time a Labour leader has said the words 'in/out referendum'.But Labour MP Keith Vaz said: "I'm very happy. It's hugely exciting because this is the first time a Labour leader has said the words 'in/out referendum'.
"They're only a few words but they're very important."They're only a few words but they're very important.
"There's such a move towards federalism within the EU that it's inevitable there will be some kind of transfer of power which means this referendum will happen, even if Ed Miliband seems to think it's unlikely at the moment.""There's such a move towards federalism within the EU that it's inevitable there will be some kind of transfer of power which means this referendum will happen, even if Ed Miliband seems to think it's unlikely at the moment."
Former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Miliband was right "that the priority of the next Labour government should not be an all-consuming debate about leaving the EU". 'No sense'
He added: "But Ed Miliband is also right that in the event of a transfer of powers from Britain to Brussels we should give the people a vote in an in/out referendum. But David Cameron said Labour's position made "no sense whatsoever" and reflected the party's "we know best" approach to politics.
"This offers reassurance not only to business and millions of workers whose jobs depend on Europe but also allays the fears of those who are uncomfortable with moves towards ever-closer union." "It is not a proposal for an in-out referendum," he said.
"The British people now have a very, very clear choice. At the next election they can elect a Conservative government that will renegotiate Britain's position in Europe and give people a guaranteed in-out referendum by the end of 2017.
"If they get a Labour government, they will get no referendum, no choice, no reform, nothing. It couldn't be clearer."
The coalition has already enshrined in law a so-called referendum lock, promising a vote on whether to transfer further powers to Brussels if the situation arises - but not on whether to leave the EU.The coalition has already enshrined in law a so-called referendum lock, promising a vote on whether to transfer further powers to Brussels if the situation arises - but not on whether to leave the EU.
Conservative attempts to legislate for an in/out referendum in 2017 have been thwarted by the Liberal Democrats, which party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg describes as "Britain's only party of in".Conservative attempts to legislate for an in/out referendum in 2017 have been thwarted by the Liberal Democrats, which party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg describes as "Britain's only party of in".
'Welcome'
In January 2013, Mr Cameron pledged that a future Conservative majority government would renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU and then give British people the "simple choice" between staying in under those new terms, or leaving the EU.In January 2013, Mr Cameron pledged that a future Conservative majority government would renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU and then give British people the "simple choice" between staying in under those new terms, or leaving the EU.
UKIP said Mr Miliband had put "himself squarely on the side of the Westminster elite and against the British public".UKIP said Mr Miliband had put "himself squarely on the side of the Westminster elite and against the British public".
"He won't support policies to control immigration and now he won't even allow people a vote to take back self-government and the power to control immigration," its leader Nigel Farage said."He won't support policies to control immigration and now he won't even allow people a vote to take back self-government and the power to control immigration," its leader Nigel Farage said.
But the CBI said it welcomed Labour's clarification of its position and its call for the UK to build alliances to press for reforms to the EU.
"The CBI strongly supports Ed Miliband's view that we are better off in a reformed EU than outside with no influence," it said.
"Calling a referendum is a matter for politicians to decide. But business believes that future investment, growth and jobs depend on the UK being part of a competitive and outward-looking EU."