Lord West: "We are not bloody Denmark"

Labour has apologised after one of its senior politicians branded Denmark and Belgium as "second-tier" countries.

Lord West, formerly First Sea Lord, said the UK was still a first-rate military power, "not like bloody Denmark or Belgium" - adding that Britain would be "suffer as a result" if "we try to become that".

He made his remarks as Labour delivered the findings of a 10-month review into defence procurement.

Shaow defence secretary Jim Murphy - who was sharing the stage with Lord West - apologised to "our former friends" in the fellow European Union countries, following his comments.