Ed Miliband is to become the first senior British politician to hold talks with François Hollande at the Elysee Palace.

Despite being given the red carpet treatment by David Cameron on a visit to London last week, the Socialist French president will shower his hospitality on the Labour leader ahead of the Prime Minister.

It comes as the Labour leader's maintained his lead over the Prime Minister when it comes to personal ratings. A ComRes poll found Labour's leader had risen to minus 17 points, with Mr Cameron on minus 27 and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on minus 42.

In the meeting in Paris on Tuesday, the pair will discuss plans to tackle record youth unemployment in Europe. More than half of Spain's young are jobless, while the rate is 36% in Italy and 22% in Britain and France, Labour said.

Mr Miliband will also meet Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and the Socialists' secretary-general, Martine Aubry.

"There is a youth unemployment emergency across Europe," a Labour source said. We now need to work together to have a co-ordinated plan for jobs and growth. We cannot allow the future of the European continent to sit idle because of the failure to deliver the jobs young people need."