Wes Streeting has welcomed what he called “encouraging” signs that Britons are preparing for emergencies, after shelves were stripped of baked beans, bottled water and batteries.
The Defence Secretary praised the rush to stock up after Labour warned last week that the country could face disruption caused by cyberattacks, extreme weather and threats from hostile states.
Retailers have reported sharp increases in sales of essential supplies. At online supermarket Ocado, several brands of bottled water were listed as out of stock today.
Customers looking for Volvic, Highland Spring and Brecon Carreg were prompted to “show alternatives”, while stocks of several Heinz and Baxters soup products had also run out.
An Ocado spokesman said the company was working with its supply-chain partners to improve availability. Customers were advised to check again later or schedule deliveries for later in the week.
Iceland, the frozen food retailer, recorded a 40 per cent rise in sales of tinned products, alongside strong demand for bottled water. The chain said the increase followed the Government’s warning.
“Our supplies remain healthy,” a supermarket spokesman said.
Booths, the northern supermarket chain, also reported year-on-year growth in sales of tinned food, bottled water and batteries. Recent storms and flooding may have influenced shoppers’ decisions to prepare.
Asked about the evidence of stockpiling, Mr Streeting told BBC Newsnight: “It’s encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready. Having a few everyday essentials at home, from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption, whether that’s flooding, power cuts or burst pipes. We can all play our part in making Britain more resilient.”
Wes Streeting has welcomed “encouraging” signs that Britons are preparing for emergencies after shelves were stripped of baked beans, bottled water and batteries
The surge in demand followed the Government’s release of new official “Be Ready” guidance, which includes a checklist for surviving emergencies.
The advice recommends keeping enough food and water for three days, as well as cash in case electronic payment systems fail.
Households are advised to store at least nine litres of water per person, food that can be prepared without electricity, spare chargers and supplies for pets.
The print-and-keep document also recommends having a wind-up or battery-powered radio, toilet paper and baby food at home.
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Last Thursday, Mr Streeting called on every household to prepare three days’ worth of non-perishable food, bottled water, an FM radio and blankets in case of hybrid attacks involving terrorists or rogue state actors.
Ministers have stressed that the guidance forms part of a broader national resilience strategy. Its aim is to prepare Britain for the combined risks of severe weather, cyberattacks and foreign aggression, particularly from Russia.
Supermarkets, however, say they are now better equipped to cope with sudden surges in demand following supply-chain reforms introduced after the Covid pandemic. During the crisis, panic buying led to nationwide shortages of toilet paper, pasta and hand sanitiser.
The Association of Convenience Stores said it had seen no “meaningful change” in weekend sales. However, sources have warned that some shoppers could take the stockpiling advice too far.
Following last week’s stormy weather, the Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner chaired a summit on the dangers posed by wildfires on Friday. Mr Burnham told the meeting that “unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common”.
“Obviously weather events – and we’re in a situation today where the UK is facing storms, and obviously we feel for the people without power in Cornwall right now – it is just having those supplies in the house to get you through those moments,” he said.
Online giant Ocado saw a surge in demand for essentials after the Government warned of potential shortages and disruption
Ministers say the advice is part of a wider national resilience strategy aiming to prepare Britain for risks such as severe weather (Pictured: Waves crash over the promenade during Storm Boelo at the weekend)
‘We are having that conversation about resilience. That’s why we’re holding this summit today, it’s why we’re putting the guidance out to the public.
‘We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.’
Critics of the emergency plans have accused the Government of giving ‘bossy lectures’ and ‘encouraging panic’ while failing to ramp up spending on Britain’s defence.
Earlier this week, Mr Burnham made light of the orders, telling BBC Radio 5’s Matt Chorley show he would include Twiglets in his stockpile.
The PM said: ‘I do like my beans, so I have plenty of those in the cupboard and soup. I think those are the kind of things that I would recommend people to have as well as Twiglets.
‘I’m not sure I can get by for too long without those.’