The government under Andy Burnham is urging UK households to stock up on essential supplies such as tinned food and bottled water amid growing concerns over the climate crisis and potential threats from hostile states. This initiative forms part of a new campaign by the Labour Party aimed at strengthening the nation’s resilience to various emergencies.
The Cabinet Office has emphasised the importance of public preparedness, encouraging citizens to take practical steps to be ready for severe disruptions, including extreme weather events or cyber attacks. Louise Haigh, Cabinet Office minister and Burnham’s effective deputy, is reportedly coordinating crisis planning across different government departments to enhance the response and support for communities affected by such events.
In addition, work on the government’s “war book”-a strategic manual for national defence against external threats-has been accelerated, according to reports from the Financial Times. The government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security as a top priority.
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A spokesperson from the Cabinet Office stated: “We’re committed to raising awareness of simple steps households can take to make themselves more resilient, as well as progressing our home defence programme to improve the country’s preparedness for a range of threats.”
Government officials have confirmed that the upcoming publicity campaign will advise people on maintaining emergency supplies such as bottled water and tinned food, aiming to provide practical guidance without causing alarm.
Highlighting the urgency, Darren Jones, a former Cabinet Office minister, announced last month that efforts to update the government “war book” have been stepped up. One official clarified that the guidance would not resemble Cold War-era advice like “duck and cover” but would offer sensible recommendations to enhance domestic resilience.
Echoing these concerns, Dieter Helm, professor of economic policy at Oxford University, warned about the vulnerabilities of the UK’s energy infrastructure to cyber attacks, urging ministers to recognise and act on these risks promptly.