Britain is vulnerable to food and medicine shortages if conflict breaks out, warned a Labour peer who chairs the National Preparedness Commission. Lord Harris of Haringey said the UK should be prepared for supplies to be 'shut off' in the event of conflict, given the nation's heavy reliance on imports.
Warning from Lord Harris
Lord Harris's comments came in response to Andy Burnham's essay in The Times, which warned of an 'increasingly dangerous world with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East, climate and energy insecurity, and technology rapidly changing the nature of war abroad and our security at home.' Burnham, ahead of his suspected Prime Ministerial takeover, argued that Britain must 'go much further than ever' in backing British resilience, including providing the 'kit our armed forces need' and reindustrialisation through defence.
Lord Harris said the UK needed to enhance its resilience and begin a 'national conversation' around the topic, covering a range of national shocks, including pandemics and extreme weather. His letter was read in the House of Lords as it discussed the delayed Defence Readiness Bill, recommended by the Strategic Defence Review more than a year ago but omitted from the King's Speech in May.
Vulnerability of Imports
Lord Harris stated: 'We have, after all, the most open economy amongst the G20. Our food supplies, our pharmaceuticals, plus key industrial materials are imported and vulnerable to blockades and embargoes. We need to be ready for those imports to be disrupted or even shut off. And in the event of conflict, we will need to be able to divert the nation's resources to the support of our military and homeland defence.' He said Government departments, public bodies, local authorities, and large businesses should also boost their preparedness.
NATO Assessment and Resilience Targets
Baroness Neville-Jones, an ex-Security Minister and former member of the National Security Council, said Britain could be 'cutting it close' with its national resilience. 'Nato's assessment is that, by 2030, Russia may decide to step up its existing level of aggression in Europe, something which is truly, truly frightening,' she said. She also questioned whether the bill would involve 'some kind of national service.'
Lord Coaker, Defence Minister, said the Defence Readiness Bill would be introduced in this Parliament, and he would make the case for it to be 'funded properly.' NATO member states have committed to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035, with 3.5% on core defence and 1.5% on national resilience, such as safeguarding ports, power grids, or improving transport. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis on Monday said Britain meets the 1.5% for national resilience, but did not comment on whether the UK would meet NATO targets.
