Heavy rain on already saturated ground caused river levels in the Somerset Levels to rise by meters. Entire villages have had to be evacuated. The army has been deployed to lay out sandbags in order to hold back at least some of the water. The government is now considering applying for money from the EU's solidarity fund. The long delay in doing so is said to have its roots in domestic politics. Time and again British politicians have called UK membership in the EU into question.