Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has urged the public and businesses in the UK to prepare for potential disruptions caused by natural disasters, cyber attacks, or state-sponsored terrorism. Speaking at the opening of the UK Gun Hall Plant in Telford, Streeting highlighted risks such as wildfires, flooding, and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that could impact everyday services like payment systems and utilities. The government has launched a "Be Ready" campaign encouraging households to stockpile essentials including food, water, and first aid supplies to survive for three days during emergencies.
This initiative follows warnings from Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle about extreme weather linked to the strongest El Niño in a generation, and a National Audit Office report highlighting vulnerabilities in the UK's food supply chain. The government aims to enhance national resilience by reducing reliance on external sources and ensuring supply chains and energy security remain robust amid crises, reflecting concerns over hostile activities and geopolitical tensions.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.