Minister admits he has not followed government stockpiling advice
Treasury minister James Murray has acknowledged that he has not followed the government’s advice for households to keep three days of emergency supplies. The new “be ready” campaign aims to help people cope with temporary disruption from events such as cyberattacks, flooding or wildfires, and reflects concern about risks to essential services and supply chains.
The guidance recommends bottled water, non-perishable food, a battery or wind-up FM radio and cash in case power or electronic payments fail. Murray said he has plenty of coffee at home but would not present the advice as a compulsory shopping list, describing preparation as a personal choice. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged people to be “alert but not alarmed”, citing potential cyberattacks on businesses and disruption to supermarket payment systems.
In short
- James Murray says he has not followed the three-day stockpiling advice.
- The guidance includes water, food, a radio and cash.
- Ministers cite cyberattacks and other disruptions as reasons to prepare.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Household emergency supplies can help people manage short disruptions when power, payments or deliveries fail, reducing pressure on emergency services and allowing people to care for themselves and vulnerable neighbours. The advice is modest and aimed at preparedness, not panic; public officials may reasonably be expected to follow it to model practical resilience.
The case against
A three-day stockpile is not equally feasible or useful for every household, and presenting a standard list can feel burdensome or sound more compulsory than intended. Since the guidance is voluntary and people face different risks and constraints, it is reasonable to treat preparation as a personal choice while focusing public policy on keeping essential services reliable.
Explained simply
The government’s “be ready” campaign advises households to prepare for short disruptions to everyday services. It suggests keeping supplies such as drinking water, food that does not need refrigeration, a radio and some cash.
The advice is intended to help people manage events such as flooding, wildfires or cyberattacks, which can affect power, shops or electronic payments. It is guidance rather than a compulsory list, and the government says preparation is a personal choice.
Treasury minister James Murray and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting are among the ministers discussing the campaign. Their comments reflect the challenge of encouraging people to prepare for possible disruption while avoiding unnecessary alarm.
Business Government Markets Politics