The British public is being encouraged to take “small but important steps” to bolster their personal resilience against potential national crises, such as severe weather events or sophisticated cyber-attacks. Downing Street confirmed the government will launch a public awareness campaign aimed at helping individuals secure access to essential services like water, power, and basic phone signal.
Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, highlighted the growing risks posed by climate change, warning of “significant and prolonged disruption to essential services” from extreme weather. He also pointed to the combined threat of advanced artificial intelligence and ongoing global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, which could enable criminals to launch “hostile cyber-attacks against businesses and critical infrastructure.”
In response to these evolving threats, the UK’s national risk register has been updated to include seven new potential crises. These additions encompass the risk of foreign interference in UK democracy, cyber-attacks targeting data, water infrastructure, and police systems, and a “digital resilience failure” scenario, drawing lessons from the global technology outage experienced in 2024.
The announcement follows concerns raised in May that Britain’s crucial supply chains were ill-prepared for a major shock, such as a large-scale conflict. Research presented privately in Westminster by the National Preparedness Commission indicated that the UK was lagging behind other European nations in stockpiling critical supplies, including medicines, and called for innovative planning approaches.
Scientists have also cautioned that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are intensifying extreme weather events. Data suggests that the heatwave across England and Wales in June resulted in approximately 440 deaths per day during its three-day peak, underscoring the immediate impact of climate-related challenges.
Looking ahead, the UK is set to conduct its largest ever “national home defence exercise” in 2027. This exercise will involve hundreds of officials wargaming Britain’s preparedness for hybrid attacks, ensuring alignment with NATO allies amidst a backdrop of rising global threats. Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones emphasised the direct threat Russia poses to the UK homeland, stating that these exercises and updated 'war books' are crucial for national preparedness.