As the energy crisis is looming and winter is coming, Brits do not want to take chances. They prefer to be fully prepared for what might come ahead, including the worst course of events. The UK government is currently working on an emergency plan to keep the country running in the event of a power outage this winter. The so-called Programme Yarrow is a confidential plan developed for government departments and councils across the country for coping with energy blackouts. The worst-case scenario for all sectors including transport, food and water supply, communications and energy could be a 7-day power outage. Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said, "All governments do contingency planning for worst-case scenarios but the truth is that we are vulnerable as a country as a direct consequence of a decade of failed Conservative energy policy.” The official noted that factors such as banning onshore wind power, slashing investment in energy-efficient industries, stalling nuclear power, and closing gas storage had made the UK energy sector more exposed to external threats. The Guardian revealed that “the government doesn’t want any publicity on Yarrow, as they don’t want it to be seen as linked to Ukraine, energy supply, and the cost of living. But we need to think about how we can help people in advance. The fact they’re talking about it now means they have a real concern it could happen.”
