The UK Government Is Asking You to Keep Extra Food and Water at Home
The UK government is launching a campaign asking people to stockpile tinned food, bottled water, and other emergency supplies to prepare for national crises, including extreme weather and attacks from hostile countries, according to sources reported by the Guardian on 25 August 2026.
First reported by the Financial Times, the campaign is part of a bigger government effort to get ready for a possible military attack on Britain by a hostile state. The goal is to make sure most UK households have basic supplies and know what to do in a crisis. If people can look after themselves at first, the government can focus its help on those who need it most, like the elderly or people with disabilities.
Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh, who is described as the deputy to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is leading the planning across government departments. Her predecessor, Darren Jones, previously confirmed that the government was working on a document called the 'war book,' which lays out how an international conflict could affect the UK.
The reasons behind this campaign are building up on several fronts. Keir Starmer, the prime minister before Burnham, warned before leaving office that Russia could attack a NATO country (NATO is a military alliance of Western nations) within four years, based on western intelligence. On 24 August 2026, during a visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused the Kremlin of making 'outrageous threats' against the UK. This came after Russia warned of rising tensions because the UK decided to give Ukraine newly declassified blueprints to help it build long-range missiles. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, said the UK's sharing of weapon blueprints would add 'fuel to the fire' and ruin any chance of a peace deal, saying, 'Britain is involved in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime.'
Cyber attacks have also become a real problem. Hackers linked to Iran were blamed last week for a cyber-attack that temporarily shut down a British power plant. In July 2026, the government added the risk of interference in democracy to its National Risk Register, which is the official list of major threats the country faces.
Extreme weather is another reason for the campaign. In early-to-mid August 2026, Burnham held a Cobra meeting, which is a special emergency meeting the government uses to respond to crises, to deal with a severe heatwave, along with threats of wildfires and drought. Drought is specifically predicted to cause food shortages in the UK. Some earlier emergency messaging drew criticism during this period; charities and domestic abuse survivors argued that a loud emergency phone alert about wildfires could have put people in danger if they relied on hidden phones to stay safe.
The government's advice builds on earlier preparedness planning. A government website called GOV.UK Prepare, which has been running since at least 2024, says UK emergencies can last anywhere from a few hours to months and can come from severe weather, attacks, accidents, or infrastructure failures. The site advises people to understand risks in their area, sign up for alerts, learn basic first aid, and make personal emergency plans, including knowing escape routes and writing down important phone numbers in case the power goes out. People who qualify can also sign up for Priority Service Registers through their utility companies to get extra help during supply interruptions.
The government has been increasing its warnings over the past year. In March 2026, it advised households to keep three days' worth of food. By April, it specifically recommended an emergency food stockpile in case conflicts, extreme weather, or cyber-attacks disrupted supply chains. A July 2026 report signaled the launch of a campaign urging Britons to take 'small steps' to prepare for crises. Some trade groups have criticized the government for being too slow; in June 2026, the CCF accused the government of failing to make the country's food supply more resilient, calling it an immediate national priority. Public awareness seems to be growing, with a May 2026 survey showing millions of Britons already 'prepping' for a major disruptive event by keeping cash and tinned goods at home.
The broader context here is that the government is shifting more responsibility for personal preparedness onto ordinary people. By telling everyone to keep three days' worth of supplies, the government is freeing up its own resources to protect critical infrastructure and help the most vulnerable during the first phase of a crisis. This brings the UK closer to countries like Finland and Sweden, which have long asked their citizens to be prepared for emergencies. But with rising nuclear threats from Moscow and real cyber attacks on things like power plants, the pressure is on for the government to get this right. Keeping public trust will depend on how well different government departments work together, and how they balance being honest about risks without causing panic. The fact that this public advice is being paired with the internal 'war book' review suggests the government expects a long period of serious, overlapping threats.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson stated: 'Safeguarding national security is the first priority of any government,' reiterating a commitment to raising awareness of simple steps households can take to make themselves more resilient and driving forward the home defense program.
