Streeting tackled over ‘be-ready’ plan in Question Time ‘scaremongering’ debate

Wes Streeting defended the government’s campaign urging the public to prepare themselves for emergencies. The defence secretary told BBC Question Time that he wants people to be “alert but not alarmed”, adding there was a not a “specific thing” in mind when it comes to potential emergency incidents, but said the advice might help during power cuts or if a local shop is subject to a cyberattack. Put to him by an audience member that it could be “scaremongering” and push people towards panic buying like during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said: “We did have this debate though, just to reassure … because we want people to be alert but not alarmed, and the truth is we looked around the rest of Europe, ‘what are our friends doing across the continent?’ “They are way ahead of us on some of this stuff. So actually, my reaction as Defence Secretary wasn’t, ‘Is this the right thing to do?’ It’s ‘why haven’t we done this before, and why are we playing catch up compared to lots of other European countries’?”

Showing now | News

02:06

Wes Streeting defends government ‘be-ready’ plan as Question Time audience tackle him over ‘scaremongering’

Wes Streeting defended the government’s campaign urging the public to prepare themselves for emergencies.

The defence secretary told BBC Question Time that he wants people to be “alert but not alarmed”, adding there was a not a “specific thing” in mind when it comes to potential emergency incidents, but said the advice might help during power cuts or if a local shop is subject to a cyberattack.

Put to him by an audience member that it could be “scaremongering” and push people towards panic buying like during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said: “We did have this debate though, just to reassure … because we want people to be alert but not alarmed, and the truth is we looked around the rest of Europe, ‘what are our friends doing across the continent?’

“They are way ahead of us on some of this stuff. So actually, my reaction as Defence Secretary wasn’t, ‘Is this the right thing to do?’ It’s ‘why haven’t we done this before, and why are we playing catch up compared to lots of other European countries’?”

Up next

03:08

I asked Trump a question and now I’ve been barred from Air Force One

01:06

Fists fly in Albanian parliament as protests continue across country

00:58

Bengals quarterback reacts to JD Vance at practice

00:32

Medics in hazmat suits board plane amid ‘Norovirus outbreak’

07:32

What Really Goes On Behind the Scenes of SNL UK

05:26

Love Is Blind UK cast reveal what you didn’t see in the pods

05:27

I Want Your Sex Cast Reveal What Filming Sex Scenes Is Really Like

04:46

Ed Gamble and Joanne McNally judge readers’ hottest takes

31:40

In The Room | Why France is rioting – and is Britain next?

37:23

In The Room | Does Andy Burnham want to reverse Brexit?

28:00

In The Room | Can Kemi Badenoch save the Tories with Thatcherism 2.0?

35:24

In The Room | Will Andy Burnham be able to keep his party promises?

14:18

Are Arsenal actually worse this season?

17:18

Why Florian Wirtz is Liverpool’s biggest problem

39:28

Every Premier League team’s biggest weakness right now

25:26

Explained: The complete timeline of Man City’s 115 charges

35:41

Kane v Yamal – is the Ballon d’Or just a PR contest?

41:00

Will the Premier League ever be the same after City’s guilty verdict?

19:44

Copa Independent | The great Man City sham

22:20

Copa Independent | Could this be the end of Man City as we know them?

47:24

Poorna Bell: Why turning 40 changed everything

45:52

Elizabeth Davies: Why women should stop exercising to get smaller

46:12

Ed Gamble on diabetes, body image and letting go of perfection

32:26

“I lost my period and thought it was normal”

07:11

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

08:32

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

05:45

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

05:35

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

47:32

Former MI6 chief on Russia, Trump and the future of the West

55:16

UK-Palestinian ambassador: It’s time for mass protests against Israel

45:27

Zelensky: Trump risks using all of his missiles on Iran

51:21

David Miliband: Democracy is in retreat amid growing global conflict

12:25

Sam Ryder on heartbreak and the healing power of music

13:04

Tom Grennan: ‘I’ve been fighting my demons for years’

02:13

Montreux Jazz Festival CEO on what makes it so special

05:49

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

07:40

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

08:56

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

13:49

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

10:57

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

05:45

Sponsored

Me Myself and Money: Anthony Hutton

05:06

Sponsored

The £212 Travel Challenge: 24 hours in Dublin

07:13

Sponsored

The £800k Secret: Can you spot the super-saver?

06:28

Sponsored

Salary vs. Spending: Can you match the wage to the lifestyle?

03:22

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

02:17

When Harry Styles went where no man had with his US Vogue cover

02:21

How Kim Kardashian’s attempt to honour Marilyn Monroe went wrong

01:44

How Björk’s Swan dress transcended public ridicule to icon status

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

15:01