Monday, October 26 2026 - Britain must strengthen its military readiness and emergency preparedness as potential adversaries could have the capacity to launch an attack by 2030, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned, according to a report.
Writing in The Telegraph, Streeting said the threat
reflected changes in hostile states’ capabilities. “By 2030 their force
strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack,” he wrote. He
said Britain and its allies needed to prepare to deter conflict and respond
effectively if necessary, while also strengthening resilience against
disruption at home
The warning followed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s call for
households to keep essential supplies for emergencies, including severe weather
and power outages. According to the report, the recommended supplies include
three days of food, bottled water, blankets, cash, a first aid kit and a
wind-up FM radio.
Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and pet food were also suggested.
Burnham said the advice was intended to encourage practical preparation rather
than panic. “It’s about just taking sensible measures to have enough in the
house to tide you over should there be a difficult situation,” he told the BBC.
Streeting also urged businesses and households to consider
whether they were prepared for disruptions, citing concerns about hostile
activity, including potential Russian state-sponsored attacks. The report said
the National Audit Office had warned the previous month that cyber attacks and
climate-related events posed risks to Britain’s food supply chain.
It criticised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs for insufficient action to improve resilience. Responding, Burnham said
increasingly frequent unexpected events made preparedness important. He pointed
to storms and power outages in Cornwall as examples of situations in which
household supplies could help people manage temporary disruption.
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