Ukip could have propped up a Labour government had Ed Miliband not ruled out EU referendum, says Nigel Farage

The eurosceptic politician accused Labour of turning its back on the British people

Nigel Farage said he was left with no choice but to work with the Conservatives (BBC)

Ukip would be prepared to prop up a Labour government had Ed Miliband not ruled out a referendum on EU membership, Nigel Farage has revealed.

The Ukip leader said the opposition had “turned their backs” on the issue and indicated that as a result Ukip would be forced to work with the Tories in the event of a hung parliament.

“I would happily say to you that Ukip could have worked with a Labour party that believed in the British people having a say on the greatest constitutional question of the day. They’ve turned their backs on it,” the Ukip leader told the audience of the BBC leaders’ TV debate.

“If they had offered a referendum we could have done business, but they’ve turned their backs on the British people. The only issue do we govern our own country and control or our own borders.”

Mr Farage criticised Labour’s stance on the issue of a referendum, pointing out that the party had once opposed membership of the common market.

He explained that Ukip’s priority in the case of a hung parliament would be for a referendum to be held and that he was therefore left with no choice but to work with David Cameron’s Conservatives.

“It’s a mystery to me that the Labour party, which used to be the party that actually believed that the EU would be bad for Britain, now won’t even give the British people a referendum,” he said. “I’m astonished by that but that’s what I believe is the most important thing Ukip in parliament could fight for.”

Ed Miliband faced a backlash from Labour eurosceptics after he ruled out an EU referendum last year. There had been some speculation that Labour was considering offering a vote.

Mr Farage last night described EU membership as “the most important constitutional question this country”.

The eurosceptic politician also said many English voters found it “deeply concerning” that Mr Miliband would be likely to work with the SNP in the event of a hung parliament and that such an arrangement could lead to “the Scottish tail wagging the dog”.

The five party leaders were taking part in a “challenger” debate on BBC One which excluded David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

David Cameron declined to join the debate and Nick Clegg’s party says he was prevented from doing so by the Conservatives.