Labour under growing pressure to firm up defence spending pledge as ministers AGAIN refuse to say whether they'll deliver 2.5% of GDP for Armed Forces within the next five years

Labour today came under fresh pressure to firm up their defence spending pledge in the wake of Donald Trump's US election victory. Defence Secretary John Healey said the Government had a 'cast-iron commitment' to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. Defence Secretary John Healey refused to say whether Labour would reach a target to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence within the next five years Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks with soldiers and staff at the Stanford Training Area near Thetford, Norfolk, last month Donald Trump's election win last week has sparked fresh uncertainty over continued US backing for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion Mr Trump's election win last week has sparked fresh uncertainty over continued US backing for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion. Tory shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge noted how ministers have been 'unable' to say whether they would deliver on the 2.5 per cent target in the current Parliament. But Mr Healey shot back that the Tories had 14 years in power to increase to defence spending to 2.5 per cent, as he tore into the previous government's pre-election pledge.