Britons scramble to withdraw cash from ATMs after Labour issues ominous 'Be Ready' emergency guidance
Labour's 'Be Ready' campaign was unveiled against the backdrop of a major global cybersecurity crisis
TL;DR
- ATM withdrawal values surged to unprecedented levels over the weekend.
- The average amount withdrawn on Friday exceeded £100, the highest figure for that day since July.
- Saturday set an all-time record for average withdrawal amount, though total withdrawals were lower than the previous year.
- Sunday also broke records with the typical withdrawal topping £90 for the first time.
- Labour's 'Be Ready' campaign urges households to keep three days' worth of essential supplies for potential crises.
- A Government checklist recommends stockpiling water, non-perishable food, a radio, torches, blankets, and other essentials.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the initiative, citing the increasing frequency of unexpected events.
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned about the impact of sophisticated cyber attacks on supply chains.
- Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat supported the preparedness advice.
- Conservative MP Alicia Kearns criticized Labour, accusing them of 'lecturing the public' and neglecting government responsibilities.
- The campaign was launched during a major global cybersecurity crisis affecting PHP, a programming language used by many websites.
- Government services were temporarily pulled offline due to potential exposure from the cybersecurity flaw.