Click here to listen to the MP3 of this interview

Question: David Blunkett has said that a referendum is needed on the new EU treaty because it does not differ enough from the failed constitution. Is that something you'd agree with?

David Miliband: I haven't actually read this conversation but I was told about it. I think that we've got a European treaty that doesn't exist yet.

We've got the mandate that was created by the European Council in June and we've got negotiations that will go on over the next few months.

I think you'll see a very strong case from the government, but also from business people, from environmental groups that this treaty does protect the things that are important for us, it actually makes Europe better run and increases the voting weight of Britain in the council of ministers, which is obviously a good thing for Britain.

I think it's also an opportunity for Parliament to do the sort of careful scrutiny that the prime minister has talked about. That's a case I think you'll hear from many quarters very clearly.

Question: David Blunkett is the latest in a line of Labour MPs that have expressed concern...

David Miliband: I don't think you should misquote or misconstrue his position.

My view is very, very clear. The June European Council was a very important moment for the European Union - 27 heads of government said that the constitution had been abandoned.

The idea of re-founding the European Union had been therefore abandoned, and I think that you'll see as the treaty emerges and as it becomes clear that what was agreed in June is translated into legal amendments in the same way that previous treaties have amended the European treaty, I think you'll see the protection of the things that people care about - whether it be in foreign policy or elsewhere - the myths demolished.

But you'll also see that the treaty delivers some important benefits for the UK and that's a good thing obviously.

Miliband on Labour 'divisions'

Question: There must be a danger that Labour looks divided over Europe?

David Miliband: I don't think you'll see a divided Labour Party over Europe. I think you'll see that the government's position - the party's position - was resolved many years ago in respect of the European Union.

What we want is an outward-looking European Union and the reform that we're going to want to see is of the European Union and I think the treaty will make that more possible.

Question: Are there any circumstances under which you think there could be a referendum?

David Miliband: We've made clear that following the June European Council - where as I say the constitutional treaty was abandoned - it's parliamentary scrutiny that's the right way forward. The prime minister's made that very, very clear, I've made that clear.

I think that there is an opportunity for Parliament to help scrutinise and also inform through the detailed scrutiny of the reform treaty when it finally comes forward.

The truth is that this treaty will allow us to put to one side the debate about institutional reform, it will lock in the European Union as a grouping of sovereign nation states who co-operate in a whole range of areas and that's a good thing and will allow us to get stuck into things that really matter for people.

Question: So you're saying there definitely won't be a referendum?

David Miliband: I'm repeating exactly what the prime minister said which is that the constitution has been abandoned, that we're in a new situation and that parliamentary scrutiny is the way forward.