Brexit: Panicked British start hoarding in case of no-deal

Everything from tinned butter to paracetamol is being stockpiled by anxious Brits, who are sharing “hamsters lists” in case of a no-deal Brexit.

Nappies are at the top of some mothers’ hamster lists. Picture: Renae Droop.

Panicking Britons are sharing online “hamster lists” with advice on what food and other essentials they should be stockpiling in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

With Theresa May’s Withdrawal Bill almost certain to be defeated tomorrow morning (AEDT) the possibility of the UK leaving the EU with no deal is becoming increasingly likely.

Amid warnings of goods being blocked at Channel ports, Britons are hoarding everything from underwear to toilet paper, and are stocking up on alcohol and tobacco to trade if the pound dives.

The panic was stoked by a former adviser to Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who warned that some seasonal foods might become unavailable. The British have become used to eating foods such as pineapples and strawberries in all seasons, importing them from southern Europe.

James Starkie, who resigned in protest over Mrs May’s withdrawal deal, told the BBC “certain types of food that are seasonable and come directly from the Continent could be impacted to a limited degree.”

A member of the 48% Preppers group shared his hoarding cupboard on Facebook. Picture; Facebook.

He did point out that there would be no shortage of essentials, but that hasn’t stopped people from going straight into hoarder mode, storing rice, lentils and even paracetamol.

On the powerful parenting website Mumsnet, anxious mothers are swapping tips on what to buy under the topic Preppers. A Facebook site called 48% Preppers now averages 60 posts a day on the subject

One woman put dog food, toilet rolls and meat at the top of her list while another noted that Brexit came right before Easter and added Easter eggs to her list.

A very thorough woman who admitted drawing up a “full Brexit stockup plan” wrote: “There’s also likely to be problems with the supply of dairy, and I’ve found a firm called Convar that supplies things like tinned butter and cheese … I’m planning to get a lamb from the butcher for one of my freezers, butchered in cuts I have specified. Overall I feel pretty well prepared but I’ve spent a lot of money, rather resentfully to be honest, given this really didn’t need to happen.”

Another wrote: “I have bought extra pasta, jars, baked beans, long-life milk, noodles, tinned fruit and veg, flour and stuff to bake bread, and the kids’ favourite cereals so that we can ride the first few weeks without having to do a shop.

Still another said she would have a stash of “nappies, Calpol, formula, toiletries, paracetamol etc.”

Suggestions that the British could just go back to eating food in season was quickly slapped down.

“No soft fruit in winter, no citrus, no bananas, no avocados, limited peppers, aubergines, pineapples, mangoes etc,” one person responded.