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  Ed Miliband to rule out promise of a referendum on Europe
  
  Ed Miliband will today reject calls for Labour to respond to the rise of the UK Independence Party
  
  (Ukip) by promising a referendum on the European Union.
  
  Addressing the Blairite group Progress in London, Mr Miliband will say: "Our national interest lies
  
  in staying in the EU and working for the changes that will make it work better for Britain."
  
  Criticising David Cameron's promise of a Europe referendum by 2017, he will say: "It is wrong now
  
  to commit to an in/out referendum and have four years of uncertainty and a 'closed for business'
  
  sign above our country. Let me be very clear: we will always make decisions on these issues
  
  in the national interest."
  
  His remarks suggest Labour is unlikely to offer a referendum in its 2015 election manifesto, a
  
  move favoured by some Labour MPs in order to neutralise Mr Cameron's pledge. Mr Miliband's
  
  aides insist a final decision will be taken "in the national interest" closer to the election.
  
  Mr Miliband will describe Ukip as a "party of protest" after its success in this month's local elections
  
  while insisting that Labour is a "party of solutions". He will ridicule Mr Cameron for allowing
  
  Conservative MPs and ministers to vote next week for an amendment to the Queen's Speech
  
  regretting the absence of an EU referendum bill. Labour will join the Liberal Democrats in
  
  voting against the amendment.

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