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Brits given WW3 warning as food and medicine supply could be 'shut off'

Lord Harris of Haringey, who chairs the National Preparedness Commission, warned that the UK should be prepared for food and medicine supplies to be 'shut off' in the event of conflict

[Burnham has been warned]

Burnham has been warned(Image: TOBY SHEPHEARD, AFP via Getty Images)

A Labour peer who chairs the National Preparedness Commission has warned that Britain is at risk of food and medicine shortages if conflict erupts. Lord Harris of Haringey stated that the UK should brace itself for our supplies to be "shut off" in the event of conflict, a worrying prospect given our heavy reliance on imports.

His remarks were made in response to Andy Burnham's essay in The Times. Ahead of his anticipated Prime Ministerial takeover, Burnham cautioned that we must "go much further than ever" in supporting British resilience as we confront an "increasingly dangerous world with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East, climate and energy insecurity, and technology rapidly changing the nature of war abroad and our security at home".

This resilience would encompass the "kit our armed forces need", and reindustrialisation through defence.

[Andy Burnham said we are facing an increasingly dangerous world]

Andy Burnham said we are facing an increasingly dangerous world(Image: Getty)

Lord Harris argued that the UK needed to bolster its resilience and initiate a "national conversation" on the subject, adding that it should span a variety of national shocks, including pandemics and severe weather events, reports the Express.

His letter was read out in the House of Lords during discussions on the delayed Defence Readiness Bill, which was recommended by the Strategic Defence Review over a year ago but was left out of the King's Speech in May.

Lord Harris noted: "We have, after all, the most open economy amongst the G20. Our food supplies, our pharmaceuticals, plus key industrial materials are imported and vulnerable to blockades and embargoes.

"We need to be ready for those imports to be disrupted or even shut off. And in the event of conflict, we will need to be able to divert the nation's resources to the support of our military and homeland defence."

He stated that Government departments, public bodies, local authorities, and large businesses should also strengthen their preparedness.

[Britain is vulnerable to food shortages, a Labour peer warned]

Britain is vulnerable to food shortages, a Labour peer warned(Image: Getty)

Baroness Neville-Jones, a former Security Minister and ex-member of the National Security Council, warned Britain could be "cutting it close" with its national resilience.

"Nato's assessment is that, by 2030, Russia may decide to step up its existing level of aggression in Europe, something which is truly, truly frightening," she warned. She also raised questions about whether the bill would involve "some kind of national service".

Lord Coaker, Defence Minister, confirmed the Defence Readiness Bill would be brought forward in this Parliament, adding he would argue for it to be "funded properly".

Nato member states have pledged to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035, with 3.5% on core defence and 1.5% on national resilience, including protecting ports, power grids, or enhancing transport.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis on Monday confirmed Britain meets the 1.5% for national resilience, but declined to comment on whether the UK would hit Nato targets.

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