UK households urged to stock up on £3.50 staple by government

UK households have been issued analogue advice by the deputy Prime Minister alongside measures to better prepare UK for future pandemics, disasters and cyber-attacks.

Britons should stock up on torches and candles in case of power cuts, according to Oliver Dowden. UK households have been issued analogue advice by the deputy Prime Minister alongside measures to better prepare UK for future pandemics, disasters and cyber-attacks.

A torch costs £3.50 from Halfords while candles cost £3.75 for a 100 pack of tealights at Tesco. According to the Times, Oliver Dowden described the supplies as “analogue capabilities that it makes sense to retain” in a digital age during a visit to Porton Down, the UK’s military laboratory.

He told the Commons: “The government has a role in bringing all actors together and to give them the skills they need. Today, I can announce we are developing a new UK resilience academy that will improve the skills of those groups. It will provide a range of learning and training opportunities for the whole of society.

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"For professionals, there will be a curriculum to build skills, knowledge and networks, and a centre for excellence for exercising. For businesses, there will be greater guidance and particularly assistance on threats to critical national infrastructure and cyber.

“And for citizens, there will be a unified government resilience website, which will provide practical advice on how households can prepare as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the simple steps individuals can take to raise their resilience.” The Labour frontbencher Pat McFadden said: “Why is it that the government’s new policy is to roll back on the transition mandated by its own legislation for net zero, and prolong a reliance on international fossil fuel markets? For these failures, the British public has paid a heavy price.

“And how will the government increase resilience in the public estate? Schools’ capital budgets cut back under this prime minister’s watch while he was chancellor. School roofs falling in, disrupting children’s education.” McFadden said: “With an election coming some time in the next year, I am sure the secretary of state would agree that we need to do all we can to ensure it is conducted in a free and fair manner.”

Mr Dowden said: “Indeed it is not just in this nation, in many nations around the world next year – or indeed in this nation it could be the year after – elections will happen. That is why we have instructed the democracy taskforce to make sure we are fully resilient.”