Readers question whether government emergency stockpiling advice is affordable for everyone

Summary

Letters to The Guardian respond to the Be Ready campaign, which advises every Briton to stockpile water and food supplies. One midwife working in Tower Hamlets, one of London's poorest boroughs, writes that the practical recommendations risk excluding the families most vulnerable. For those living in a single room in a shared house, storing nine litres of water per person alongside three days' worth of essential supplies may be unrealistic, and families already struggling with the cost of food, heating and everyday necessities may find extra emergency provisions financially impossible. The letters argue that being prepared should be a public health measure rather than a privilege. The page also carries a letter from Chris Rotheram, who describes prescription anxiety, and five further letters on the campaign.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   29 Oct 2026, 17:55 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian's letters page, in a piece headlined 'Emergency stockpiles are a luxury that not everyone can afford', publishes responses to the Be Ready campaign, including a midwife's argument that its stockpiling advice risks excluding the most vulnerable families.