Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, said:

“With tensions mounting in Ukraine, it is a serious indictment of the Prime Minister that Sir Richard Shirreff, the top British commander in NATO until last year, has warned that he is becoming a ‘foreign policy irrelevance’.

"Today the leaders of France and Germany are in Moscow for talks on Ukraine, and this week US Secretary of State, John Kerry, held meetings in Kiev. Yet David Cameron has not been invited to play a part nor has he shown an interest in playing a role.

"This isn’t the first time that his Government has been one step behind our allies in trying to negotiate a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. Last month in Berlin, Philip Hammond missed another crucial opportunity for dialogue.

"This warning that he is a 'bit player’ in foreign policy, is yet more confirmation that David Cameron is weakening Britain’s influence abroad, at the time when it is most needed.”