Why is the UK telling people to stockpile? | BBC News

Summary

The UK government is urging people to keep enough essentials at home to manage for up to three days during a crisis. Its “Be Ready” advice includes food, water and medication, as well as blankets, cash and a battery-powered radio.

The government says the campaign is intended to improve national resilience, not to respond to a specific or imminent threat. The risks it cites include severe weather and disruption caused by hostile states, particularly cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Recent storms that left people without power illustrate the potential impact of disruption. The report also mentions a recent attack on Polish energy infrastructure attributed to Russia.

Retailers have reported sharp rises in sales of some relevant products since the advice was announced. Maplin said torch sales were up 284%, Iceland reported a 40% increase in tinned-food sales over the weekend, and Robert Dyas said radio sales rose 160% compared with the previous week. Some specialist businesses also reported increased orders for wind-up radios, freeze-dried food, water filters and other off-grid supplies.

Reactions were mixed. Some people questioned whether households struggling with the cost of living could afford to stockpile, while others worried the advice implied that something serious was about to happen. Some said they were already preparing, including one household that had been storing water. A long-time prepper featured in the report advised learning practical skills, noting that supplies are of limited use if people do not know how to use them.

The government and commentators say the UK is less prepared than many European countries, where similar public preparedness campaigns are common. Finland was highlighted as an example of a country that takes resilience seriously.

Presenters and Contributors

• Dan Jarvis — minister quoted defending the campaign
• Daniel Sandford — UK correspondent
• Nick Watt — Newsnight correspondent
• Amanda White — BBC Look North reporter
• Sarah Mallaloy — prepper interviewed in the report
• Esme Ashcroft — name unclear in the subtitles; identified there as a BBC political reporter
• Wes Streeting — mentioned in the subtitles, though the name and role may be mistranscribed
• The studio presenter, members of the public and business owners were not identified by name.