Britain may stop supplying gas to mainland Europe if hit by shortages

Britain’s plans would also include cutting gas supplies to big industrial users and asking consumers to reduce their household consumption. Photograph: Clynt Garnham/Alamy

Britain may stop supplying gas to mainland Europe if the country is hit by extreme shortages in the coming months, it has emerged.

National Grid could cut off gas pipelines to the Netherlands and Belgium under emergency measures as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine puts pressure on global energy supplies.