Government changes advice on buying petrol
Having previously told drivers to top up with petrol ahead of a possible tanker drivers’ strike, the government is now saying there is no need to queue at forecourts.
The U-turn following a decision by unite, the tanker drivers’ union, to rule out strikes before Easter.
“There is no urgency to top up your tank – a strike will not happen over Easter,” the Department for Energy and Climate Change said last night.
Mr Cameron welcomed Unite’s latest move, and called on the union to engage constructively in talks expected to start next week at Acas, the conciliation service.
“It is now clear there will not be a strike before Easter, and I’m sure the whole country will welcome that news,” he said.
“The most constructive thing they (Unite) could do would be to call off the strike entirely.”
Retaining the right to strike
Unite Assistant General Secretary Diana Holland said: “We will not be calling Easter strike action as we focus on substantive talks through Acas.
“We do still retain the right to call strike action for after Easter, should those talks break down.
An Acas spokesman said: “We are meeting all of the employers involved in the dispute on Monday to complete our exploratory talks with them.
“We hope that more formal talks involving both Unite and the employers will start as soon as possible after Monday.”
Panic buying
There has been panic buying at forecourts across the UK in recent days. On Thursday petrol sales increased by almost 172 per cent, while sales of diesel were up by almost 77 per cent.
On Wednesday Cabinet Office Minister Frances Maude advised people to keep a jerry can of fuel in their garage – despite motoring organisations and energy firms urging people not to panic buy.
On the same day, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I absolutely do not want to raise the temperature on this any more than is necessary,” before advising that it would be sensible for drivers to top up in anticipation of a possible strike.
Yesterday it emerged that Diane Hill, from York, had suffered 40 per cent burns after vapours ignited as she decanted petrol from one container to another at her home, prompting calls for Mr Maude’s resignation.
