Ed Miliband has said he will not support calls for a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, as David Cameron prepares for a showdown with eurosceptic Conservative backbenchers

Next Thursday MPs will be given a chance to vote on motion that calls for the public to be given a say on Britain's membership of the EU.

While the Commons vote would not be binding on the government, it has already served to expose the divisions within the Conservative Party over Europe - with many on the right of the party keen to show their distaste for the EU.

The government is expected to pressure its MPs to vote against the motion, but the Evening Standard has reported that at least 50 Tories plan to vote against the official party line.

The Labour leader said today that he would join the prime minister in voting against a referendum. He gave the confirmation during a question and answer session on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

Miliband was responding to a question from sixth-former Max Rodgers who asked: "Would you back a referendum on Britain's future in the EU?".

@Ed_Miliband
Ed Miliband

@maxethanrodgers No. Distraction from real task in our relationship with Europe:making it work for growth and jobs. #askedm

October 19, 2011 2:20 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

Speaking during prime minister questions, David Cameron warned his backbenchers against voting in favour of a "willy nilly" referendum when there were more important issues at hand.

"In the longer term it may well be that there will be further moves towards further treaties and all the rest of it and at that stage there may be opportunities to bring further powers back to Britain and there may indeed be opportunities for a referendum," he said.

"But the right answer is not to hold a referendum willy nilly in this Parliament when we have got so much to do to get Europe to sort out its problems."

Cameron was widely regarded to have had a worse PMQs than Miliband, which left HuffPo UK wondering whether the Labour leader had eaten a double helping Weetabix for breakfast.

But as it turns out:

@Ed_Miliband
Ed Miliband

.@cllrfay porridge....#askedm

October 19, 2011 2:00 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite