LABOUR leader Ed Miliband directly challenged the party's biggest union donor Unite yesterday with a brash dismissal of its support for an in-out EU referendum after the 2015 election.

Playing to the gallery in front of a mainly business audience Mr Miliband took the opportunity to scoff at the union’s position, which had been backed a day earlier by delegates to its Liverpool policy conference.

“There should be an in/out referendum if there is a further transfer of powers from Britain to the EU,” he said.