Doubts over Labour defence spend pledge

NATO'S 5% defence commitment risks unravelling as hard-pressed allies may fail to stick to it, experts warned last night.

- By Marco Giannangeli DIPLOMATIC EDITOR

NATO'S 5% defence commitment risks unravelling as hard-pressed allies may fail to stick to it, experts warned last night.

With the deadline to reach the target a decade away, treaty members’ promises could become hostage to events.

Dr Renaud Foucart, an economist at Lancaster University, said: “The danger is that some right-wing parties in Europe capitalise on slipping domestic promises as a way to divide resolve.”

In the UK, fear is mounting on the Left that the Government may be writing a political suicide note by pursuing re-armament while trying to restore public services without raising taxes.

Labour has already faced a backlash over recent U-turns on winter fuel payments and proposed disability benefit reforms.

Pursuing a generational re-armament programme while trying to restore services could burn political capital, experts warn.