- More than three million UK households cannot afford the government's recommended emergency stockpile of food and water, according to research by think tank Verdant.
- The government's new Be Ready guidance asks households to store a three-day supply costing up to £20 per adult, excluding recommended hardware like torches and radios.
- Low-income renters and Universal Credit recipients face the highest financial barrier, making up seven in ten of those unable to afford the emergency supplies.
- Verdant director James Meadway criticised the individualised approach as bordering on irresponsible, suggesting state-backed strategic reserves or a £70m support grant.
- The report echoes warnings from food bank charity Trussell, which emphasised that millions of struggling families have no financial margin to build up reserves.
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