Shoppers were seen panic buying household essentials after the Government launched its “Be Ready” campaign, amid fears war could begin in as little as 1,000 days. Queues formed outside Costco stores and shoppers left with trolleys full of water and toilet rolls.
The car park was gridlocked at a large Asda in Colchester. One shopper, who wished to remain anonymous, said the store had been “rammed with people panic buying” leaving “the shelves empty”.
Defence Secretary warns of 2030 threat
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting admitted Britain is running out of time to improve its defences alongside Nato allies. He said enemies could be in a position to attack by 2030.
He said: "My defining priority... is to make sure that this country is ready to fight and win a war. To prevent the worst, we have to prepare for it. In the first instance, that means expanding our capabilities so our adversaries think twice about attacking us. Should that fail, we must ensure that Britain is ready for war."
He told The Telegraph he is preparing for the worst in 2027: "Our adversaries’ willingness to harm us is not new. What has changed is their capacity. By 2030, their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack.
"That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win. This Government will make sure it is mission accomplished."
Government advice on household preparedness
The stark warning came just days after the Government launched its “Be Ready” campaign, which advises households to keep non-perishable food, bottled water, blankets and a radio in case a cyber-attack or extreme weather event disrupts critical infrastructure.
The guidance says households should prepare to manage for at least three days without access to supermarkets or electronic payments, warning that severe weather and cyber attacks could disrupt essential services.
The advice says people should aim to be equipped to manage for three days, helping them cope while support reaches those most in need. Households are encouraged to keep essential supplies including bottled water, non-perishable food, torches, spare batteries, warm clothing and a charged power bank.
Context behind the campaign
The campaign also provides advice on supporting communities and accessing extra help. It began after websites across the world were shut down when two AI companies discovered a critical cyber-security flaw in PHP.
Last week Russia was exposed for using fishing trawlers to spy on critical undersea cables.
It also emerged that John Healey is reportedly set to release billions of pounds in defence spending in the budget on Wednesday. The Chancellor is pumping cash into two giant investment funds, the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank.
Some of the money will go into British arms firms to supercharge UK defence and will create thousands of frontline jobs. The Government is expected to fund the spending through long-term borrowing and says that the investments will make returns.
