Streeting says he began stockpiling food weeks ago amid rising threat to UK
UK defence secretary Wes Streeting told The Times he started stockpiling food and water weeks ago in case of a national emergency. He is urging households to build resilience as the government raises defence spending.
The UK's defence secretary, Wes Streeting, has told The Times that he began stockpiling food and drinking water several weeks ago in case of a national emergency. He stressed the threats facing the United Kingdom and said his department had already started increasing its spending.
The interview followed an announcement by the chancellor, John Healey, that he wants defence spending to reach 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035. He had previously asked Whitehall departments to find 1% budget cuts to free up money for long-term investment in defence.
What is in Streeting's supplies
The minister said he keeps bottled water, a first aid kit and a battery-powered torch ready. He is also setting aside baked beans, sweetcorn, red kidney beans, tuna, protein bars and nuts. Streeting, who recently urged all Britons to do likewise, said he wanted to lead by example. He added that even his mother had asked him how much she should buy.
Defence policy
Streeting said the UK must be able to deter its adversaries and, if deterrence fails, defeat them. He cautioned that extra spending must be handled carefully, since spending more money badly is not virtuous, and said value for money must be balanced with modernisation.
Healey resigned as defence secretary in June, criticising then prime minister Keir Starmer and then chancellor Rachel Reeves for inadequate funding of the defence investment plan. He is now chancellor in Andy Burnham's government and, announcing his first budget this week, said the plan would be fully funded. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said the UK was on a credible path towards meeting the commitment made in The Hague. Healey was criticised for leaving the details until next year's spending review.
Streeting also discussed oversight of service personnel, claiming the courts were running an "active campaign" against the reputation of special forces. He left open the possibility of scrutiny of special forces and nuclear weapons by the parliamentary intelligence and security committee.
