David Cameron has given his strongest hint yet that he will offer the British public referendum on the UK's relationship with the European Union.

The Prime Minister gave ground to Tory Eurosceptics, who reacted angrily to his previous suggestion that Britain's position could be decided either at a general election or in a referendum. The sceptics rejected the election option, saying other issues would muddy the waters.

Today Mr Cameron said a separate referendum would be the "cleanest, neatest and simplest way" to give people a say on Europe. Aides said it would almost certainly be held after the 2015 election, when the shape of the fiscal union being forged by eurozone countries would be much clearer.