Panic-buying for No-Deal Brexit?

[LiviFri]

Is anyone else doing this? I have begun bulk-buying dry goods and general supplies. While I recognise that I am panic-buying, the past weeks have frightened the hell out of me. I did consider starting this thread under money and/or mental health.

The possibility of no-deal is rising by the day and my heart goes out to the Mumsnetter who started the insulin thread here. I rely on various medicines too and my GP is already being extremely judicious (to put it politely) with dispensing medicines. So stocking on meds looks to be quite difficult.

The deceit and irresponsibility of all our politicians is terrifying, the no-deal concept is being drip-fed to us as if it were totally normal. And it makes me so incredibly angry.

I know that "No deal won't be allowed to happen" has been floating around. But it feels like we're sleepwalking into a disaster. To the point where it's hard to believe any governmental statement, given how mad and criminally irresponsible the situation is. I mean, who would trust a "public service announcement" coming from this government (or indeed the opposition)? Or any government trying to carry out Brexit, given that it's essentially a self inflicted disaster?

Fuck

Neolara, unless you have people who are experts in logistics ( and this would probably be very hard for them ) I don't quite see how that gets pulled off, who in their right mind is going to volunteer if they have no real experience at doing this sort of thing?

I worked in forestry and firefighting during the worse fire season Florida has ever experienced in 1998 ( fire crews from every state in the Union came to help out and the U.S. military got involved, it was no joke when experts said that that fire season tested the entire firefighting capability of the United States ) and I was glad I had about three years of experience before that thing hit.

Good, well-experienced people ended up quitting because that year was just too much, past that point for several years we continued to have really bad fire seasons.

If a harsh event or series of events goes on too long then even your best people will start to get worn out and they may decide to take early retirement or just plum out quit.

Since when has having the right people for the job bothered our govt (Seabourne, anyone?)

If you're not prepping, you're not listening. Of course I'm praying that we avoid No Deal, but nothing this executive has done over the last 2.5 years has persuaded me that they can handle even a soft Brexit properly, so whatever happens on Tuesday evening, it's only sensible to get some stocks in now if you can.

The EU has released a statement over the possibility of a No Deal Brexit and for around nine months things should be okay. They have urged other countries in the EU to continue current trading (from my recollection).
One of the biggest issues for me as a nurse is the fact we import all radioisotopes needed for things like cancer investigations. We don’t produce this and can’t stockpile it for obvious reasons and we use it in over 700,000 investigations a year. Nobody has been able to give a cohearant response to what happens in the event of a Non Deal exit from the EU. Reassuring innit? Let’s hope none of the gung ho “we survived during the wake, British spirit etc” folk require investigations.
Now I am sure there MUST be a plan of sorts...but crucially our politicians don’t seem to know what it is (no surprise there).

They have urged other countries in the EU to continue current trading

If the UK wants to continue current trading, it needs to sign a withdrawal deal with the EU so it can do that! No deal means the immediate introduction of customs checks and tariffs.

{If the UK wants to continue current trading, it needs to sign a withdrawal deal with the EU so it can do that!}
The EU has written a 14 point plan that says in the event of a no deal it will permit a 'bare bones' operation so that planes can fly (with restrictions) ferries can operate, EU truck drivers will be covered if going to the UK and other bits and pieces. The important thing is that the terms are ENTIRELY EU centred and time limited. 9 monts or 12 months depending on the subject and vitally important to note any or all of them can be withdrawn unilaterally by the EU. So if the EU decides that it has done with trucks for example, it can stop those concessions immediately. Basically it allows the EU to 'take' whatever it wants from the situation.

@xebobfromus I think you point about how on earth are they expecting people with limited experience to do these jobs is exactly right. Many civil servants will have experience of developing policy or delivering projects, but they are being asked to do this very quickly in areas they may have very limited experience of. Seems very risky. To be honest, I'm surprised it hasn't hit the news yet. Maybe everyone is so Brexited out that it's no longer news.

Neonatal please could you clarify what you meant by moving food, medicine and people. I get the moving food and medicine bit but what do you mean by moving people?

Neolara that should have said

A quick google gives this about rationing in WW2. Planning started in 1936:
www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-road-to-rationing-preparing-to-feed-britain-in-world-war-ii/

Neonatal please could you clarify what you meant by moving food, medicine and people. I get the moving food and medicine bit but what do you mean by moving people?

That will be extra Home Office staff for Passport Control - nothing sinister. Probably extra staff for Defra as well.

I don't actually know what they meant about movement of people I'm afraid.

That's weird Neolara. I can't believe the govt will be ready. But I'm going to the supermarket tonight to do rice/flour/sugar/water (my water tastes horrid) Is is only the non-brexit departments like education and housing that are being asked to help out?
Feels like the war or something

Tesco and M&S are preparing to stockpile:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/10/tesco-and-ms-stockpile-tinned-food-to-prepare-for-no-deal-brexit

{Lewis’s comments echoed those made by Sainsbury’s chief executive, Mike Coupe, earlier this week that a no-deal Brexit would be “hugely disruptive”. Sainsbury’s imports about 30% of its food from continental Europe. “No amount of stockpiling will mitigate that risk, simply because we don’t have the capacity – and neither does the country – to stockpile more than probably a few days’ worth,” said Coupe.}
Taken from the just linked article.

My observation is that when some items will be missing from the shelves, be it bananas, melons, oranges, whatever people will panic and buy whatever they can. This will feed a last minute and almost overnight panic.

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. I personally don’t think that the shortage will be hugely significant or long term, but there will be last minute panic and I don’t want to be part of it.

At the moment, I don’t think it’s panic buy to get prepared for this, it’s sensible. Just buy a few extra items every week. For me, we have decided to stop drinking alcohol altogether in order to save money and put it towards a little stockpile.

My name’s Jo Kearney from a TV agency and I’m trying to find people who have started stockpiling who would be happy to speak on camera. Preferably in London or nearby. Thanks

Anyone who has any sense will not go public about what they have @jokearney

Jo Cute, and hilarious.

If anybody asks, I'm not stockpiling anything and I'm expecting nothing at all to change come March, except feeling a glorious sensation of Freeeeeeedom ^^

I'm getting confused. I've been building up a small Brexit stockpile but am now not sure when the shortages are likely to begin.

Apparently even after March our trade/customs arrangements with Europe will continue as normal in a "transition period" until December 2020 and might extend even further. So we won't actually have left Europe as far as the single market is concerned.

So have I been premature in stockpiling this early? I hope someone more knowledgeable than me can explain. Thanks x

For what it's worth, getting a reasonable buffer into your food stocks at home is a sensible idea. Doing it now rather than later is a good plan.
Only you know what is best for you but I have been trotting out my idea for a three day buffer as either a start or a "better than nothing " approach . Focus on what you actually eat.

The transition period will only happen if the Withdrawal Agreement goes through. If we No Deal, there is no transition period.
At this point the Withdrawal Agreement getting through Parliament seems unlikely.
Unless and until there is a change in legislation, the default is No Deal.

Congrats to Goingonandonandon and UnnecessaryFennel, for being quoted in DM and to many others quoted in the Sun

<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thesun.co.uk/money/8188469/no-deal-brexit-hamster-hoarders-supplies" target="_blank">http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thesun.co.uk/money/8188469/no-deal-brexit-hamster-hoarders-supplies<a class="break-all" href="http://go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.thesun.co.uk/money/8188469/no-deal-brexit-hamster-hoarders-supplies/" target="_blank">/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6589503/Mumsnet-users-share-hamster-lists-stock-basics-ahead-potential-no-deal-Brexit.html