Could UK cope with mass power outage on scale of Spain's?

BRITAIN must be prepared to deal with “challenges and threats” like the devastating blackouts in Spain and Portugal, the Home Secretary has warned.

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

Much of the Iberian peninsular was brought to a standstill on Monday after a power cut switched off traffic lights, halted transport and left people unable to access cash at ATMs or pay with cards.

The mass outages have sparked suspicions of a Russian sabotage attack, although Spain’s grid operator has admitted that solar power could be to blame.

Yvette Cooper responded to the question of whether UK infrastructure could be affected in the same way by saying that Britain has a “continued approach” to “resilience” and “security issues”.