The DOOMSDAY Brexit Preppers! Meet the British families stocking cupboards with food

With hours to go until Theresa May faces defeat as she puts her European Union deal up for a vote, fears are mounting that Britain could face a food shortage.

And a group of Brexit ‘preppers’ are now getting ready for the worst, stocking up on essentials to ensure they can live out the weeks if there is no deal.

The growing community are concerned that established supply chains could break down if Britain leaves on March 29 without any customs agreements in place.

It comes as the Government faces near certain defeat in Parliament tonight, with MPs set to emphatically reject the EU Withdrawal Agreement by a hefty margin. 

Nearly 5,000 people are now part of the Facebook group ‘48% Preppers’ who are sharing tips on the ‘practical preparations people are making for life after Brexit’.

They fear there will be raging inflation, collapsing pension values, seizure of property, increased crime, mass unemployment and a plunge in house prices.

Some say the Port of Dover, where a third of our food supplies arrive from Europe, could grind to a halt with lorries stuck on motorways waiting for import checks. 

Here, MailOnline looks at how a selection of Brexit preppers are getting ready:

NEVINE MANN, CORNWALL 

Nevine Mann, 36, with her daughter Paige, five, are pictured with their supplies 

A family is stockpiling everything from baked beans and Marmite to quinoa and couscous in case of a no deal Brexit.

Nevine Mann, 36, and her husband Richard, 37, from Illogan in Cornwall, claim they have enough ‘essentials’ to keep them going for four months if the UK leaves the European Union in March.

The Manns, who have three children, have stockpiled kidney beans, tuna, rice, couscous, chickpeas, pasta, chopped tomatoes, sterilised milk, tinned corn, beans, paracetamol and ibuprofen.

They have also bought mountains of aspirin, juice, hand soap, Calpol, dried milk, honey, tea, coffee, porridge oats, raisins, bread, flour, yeast and Marmite.

The pair started buying extras on their weekly shopping trip when the Brexit negotiations began.

Mrs Mann, a former midwife who voted to remain in the EU, said: ‘A little while ago we were aware that Brexit was in the offing, and it seemed like there would be issues with securing a deal.

‘The results of a no deal Brexit would be catastrophic in terms of getting supplies in the country, certainly in the short term. 

The Manns have bought piles of chopped tomatoes, honey, mayonnaise, pasta and rice

The Manns have bought piles of chopped tomatoes, honey, mayonnaise, pasta and rice

‘We started buying extra of things we would usually buy. When we are shopping we buy beans for now and beans for later, rice for now and rice for later.’

The Manns, who have Oliver, 18, Ethan, 13 and Paige, five, have been shopping at their local Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Aldi in preparation for what might happen.

Their cupboards are stocked with 52 tins of beans, 16 cans of tuna, large tubs of mayonnaise, eight cans of chopped tomatoes and four packets of passata.

There are also two large tubs of milk powder, several large bags of rice, pasta, tri-colour quinoa and couscous. 

Nevine Mann (pictured with her daughter Paige) has been stockpiling extra food, medication and toiletries since the Brexit negotiations began in fear of a no deal scenario 

Nevine Mann (pictured with her daughter Paige) has been stockpiling extra food, medication and toiletries since the Brexit negotiations began in fear of a no deal scenario 

The Manns are also buying seeds so they can grow food in their garden in Illogan, Cornwall 

The Manns are also buying seeds so they can grow food in their garden in Illogan, Cornwall 

The couple have been buying more dried food, medication, pet food and are even stockpiling renewable energy.

Their expanded shopping list also includes seeds so they can grow their own food in the garden and equipment to purify rainwater.

The Manns also have solar panels on the roof and a 290-gallon water tank because they fear power could also be in short supply once Britain exits the EU.

Mrs Man said she was also stockpiling her own medication, because she takes anti-epilepsy and blood-thinning drugs. 

MARK McLEAN, GLASGOW

A call centre worker has spent thousands on stockpiling food, medical supplies and camping gear as he believes the UK will fall into ‘riots and disorder’ after Brexit.

Mark McLean has spent more than £2,000 hoarding the items, also including army rations and camping gear, ahead of the March date in Britain’s EU exit process.

The 33-year-old thinks riots and public panic ‘is a guarantee’ but plans to flee his Glasgow city centre flat to live off the land in the remote Scottish Highlands.

Mark McLean, 33, from Glasgow, has collected food, rations packs and a first aid kit in preparation for Brexit as he believes 'riots and public disorder is a guarantee come March' 

Mark McLean, 33, from Glasgow, has collected food, rations packs and a first aid kit in preparation for Brexit as he believes ‘riots and public disorder is a guarantee come March’ 

Customer services manager Mr McLean has trained himself to hunt squirrels and collect rainwater to drink. 

He has even made plans to build an underground bunker and tunnel system as he sees a Russian invasion post-Brexit as likely.

The ‘prophecy prepper’ has spent the last six months practising for the doomsday scenario and has all of the camping gear required – even an axe.

But while he plans to help protect his immediate family, his warning to any ex-partners who may need his help is: ‘Good luck to them’.

The call centre worker's camping haul, pictured, includes tents, sleeping bags, tarps, a bushcraft knife and axe, a head torch, rucksack, clothing and winter clothing

The call centre worker’s camping haul, pictured, includes tents, sleeping bags, tarps, a bushcraft knife and axe, a head torch, rucksack, clothing and winter clothing

Mr McLean said: ‘Riots and public disorder is a guarantee with Brexit come March. It won’t be pretty for sometime I believe.

His stockpiling has seen Mr McLean amass two weeks’ worth of tinned and frozen food along with a first aid kit including plasters, bandages, sterile wipes and basic medications.

A friend has given him British Army ration packs, which include meals, snacks as well as tea bags, electrolytes and water proof matches.

His camping haul includes tents, sleeping bags, tarps, a bushcraft knife and axe, a head torch, rucksack, clothing and winter clothing. 

JEN McENHILL, LONDON

While the traditional image of a prepper is a hippy living in the countryside, Jen McEnhill, 36, is very much an urban professional.

A project manager for an advertising agency, she lives alone in a flat in Stoke Newington, North London, and has been stockpiling food since the summer.

‘When I tell friends and family I have a Brexit box full of provisions in my living room – where they are out of sight so I’m not tempted to use them – they’re like, ‘What?’ 

Jen McEnhill (pictured) from London is also stock up and has been buying Brexit box supplies.

Jen McEnhill (pictured) from London is also stock up and has been buying Brexit box supplies.

‘They think I’m prepping for the apocalypse. But some of my friends with young children agree it’s a good idea and want to follow suit. 

‘A few years ago I’d have found the idea of stockpiling a bit nutty, but for the past five months, since it became clear there are no clear plans for coping with a no deal, I’ve been buying double amounts of food with a long-shelf life, such as pasta, as well as medicines such as antihistamines and a few treats – like nice vinegars. I’m also filling the freezer with vegetables.’

She now has enough to last about three months.

‘People can’t cope if the supermarkets are closed just for Christmas Day and we can’t necessarily put our trust in the Government to solve this issue quickly, so it’s best to look after ourselves,’ Ms McEnhill says.

JO ELGARF, LONDON

Jo Elgarf, 42, who lives in South London with her husband and children Youssef, six, and twins Layla and Nora, four, has compelling reasons to fear the practicalities of a no-deal Brexit.

‘This isn’t about Remain or Leave, I’m a normal, everyday mum with little interest in politics and I’m not a panicky type,’ she says. ‘But I used to work for a big food company so I understand the supermarket supply chain and how it can be disrupted.

‘It only takes a couple of days’ snow for shelves to empty. So over the past few months, I’ve been doing my shopping for next April now – stockpiling enough food, powdered milk and things like washing-up liquid to keep the family going for six weeks. 

Jo Elgarf, of South London, is worried about her daughter Nora's well-being after Brexit

Jo Elgarf, of South London, is worried about her daughter Nora’s well-being after Brexit

‘I’ve also been buying compost to sow seeds in my tiny garden because fresh vegetables may be scarce for a while.’

But what Jo fears most is the one thing she can’t prepare for. 

‘My biggest worry is for my daughter Nora: she has cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy and is prescribed lots of imported medicines I can’t buy over the counter. 

‘If she doesn’t take them, she can have uncontrollable seizures that could lead to sudden death. If I could store up those medicines in advance, I would, but that’s not possible.

‘I’ve sought reassurance her medication will be available after a no-deal Brexit, but received none. Not being able to help her is beyond worrying, I feel physically sick thinking about it.’ 

ANDREW RAWSON, LOCATION UNDISCLOSED 

One prepper has written a book entitled ‘Brexit: How to Survive the Food Shortage’.

Andrew. J. Rawson’s in-depth guide tells readers where to start, what to buy, how to store supplies, prepping for babies and young children and even for your pets.

But most importantly to Mr Rawson and his three children is ‘maintaining good morale in difficult circumstances’.

Mr Rawson has even written a book entitled ' Brexit: How to Survive the Food Shortage'

Mr Rawson hides tins of food under cupboards in his home

Andrew Rawson is another prepper who is stockpiling food, left his storeroom, and even hides tins, right, underneath cupboards. He lives in a rural part of England but won’t say where

Mr Rawson lives in a rural part of England but refuses to divulge exactly where and said: ‘You are likely to find prepping is a secretive thing, maintaining security of one’s supplies is a key principle. 

‘Food is already getting noticeably more expensive in the last few months. There will be shortages and big price hikes. At least we can stockpile food.’ 

However Mr McLean doesn’t view the supposedly on-coming breakdown of society as necessarily an all-bad thing.

He said: ‘If there’s any shortages of food at the shops, we’ll have to go back to a humble way of life.

‘We already waste too much. You only have to look at Christmas and how much we waste or throw away. People will have to get thriftier. We need to start saving more.

‘It will be the close-knit communities outside the cities that will come together more easily and help support each other post Brexit.’ 

Mumsnet users share their ‘hamster lists’ as they stock up on basics including Calpol, tins of tuna and wine ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit

  • Parents stocking up on non-perishables as well as medication and nappies 
  • One said she doesn’t think no-deal will be that bad but she’s still loading up 
  • She fears that nervous shoppers will panic and empty shelves of local shops
  • Comes despite assurances that day to day food need would not be affected 

By SEBASTIAN MURPHY-BATES FOR MAILONLINE

Parents who fear panic-buying in the event of a Brexit that does not include a trade deal with the EU are hoarding non-perishables.

Mumsnet users have shared so-called hamster lists detailing the food they are stocking up on. 

Even people who do not fear that a ‘no-deal’ exit from the bloc are filling their cupboards in case those who are scared empty their local supermarket shelves.

Mumsnet users say they are stocking up on tinned food as they fear panic buying might set in if there's a no-deal Brexit (file photo)

Mumsnet users say they are stocking up on tinned food as they fear panic buying might set in if there’s a no-deal Brexit (file photo)

It comes after after a former adviser to environment secretary Michael Gove warned some food imports, including seasonal fruits, could be affected.

Though he reassured the public that they would not go without the food they need, mothers are stocking up on pasta, baked beans and tinned fruit.

One user wrote on the parenting site: ‘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.’

Another said she was ‘stocking up’ on tune, tomatoes and bread mix as another said she was loading up on ‘nappies, Calpol, formula, toiletries, paracetamol etc’.

Mumsnet users have been posting to tell each other about the food and other items they are currently stocking up on

Mumsnet users have been posting to tell each other about the food and other items they are currently stocking up on

One person worried that a no-deal Brexit would mean no soft fruit in winter, while another suggested swapping avocado for pumpkin and butternut squash as they stay fresh for a year if the skin is not damaged. 

But one was more worried about wine, writing that she was ‘ensuring plentiful supplies of wine and am keeping my Christmas gin for emergencies’. 

Mr Gove’s former adviser, James Starkie, said that although nobody would go without the food they need day to day, seasonal foods could be affected.

He resigned in protest over Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed deal with the bloc, saying it was ‘not without challenges’.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk