Petrol, pasties and the politics of panic: No.10 shambles over drivers hoarding fuel, and the tax on takeaway food
- Ministers appear to give conflicting advice on how motorists should cope with threatened fuel strike
- Cameron tries to seize control of crisis as panic plays out at the pumps
- Then PM declares his love of Cornish pasties in an attempt to calm criticism of new 'pasty tax'
- Meanwhile, RAF personnel train to operate fuel lorries to counter walk-out
- Francis Maude stokes chaos by advising drivers to fill up spare jerry cans
- Firefighters say message would 'massively increase' fire and explosion risks
- Sales of petrol up 45 per cent yesterday compared to a normal Tuesday
- Miliband STILL refuses to condemn Unite, Labour's biggest union paymaster
By JAMES CHAPMAN and RAY MASSEY
Filling up the family car and buying a hot snack are two of the simple realities of everyday life.
But yesterday they conspired to plunge the Government into a day which veered between high farce and panic.
First, ministers appeared to give conflicting advice on how motorists should cope with threatened fuel shortages caused by a looming strike by militant tanker drivers.
Downing Street has been thrown into panic over drivers hoarding fuel and the tax on takeaway food. George Osborne is pictured, left, eating a pasty in 2008. David Cameron, seen snacking in 2010, declared his love of pasties at a press conference yesterday in a clumsy attempt to calm criticism of the new 'pasty tax'
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude exhorted people to take the extraordinary step of filling up jerry cans to deal with the impending problem.
But only hours later, the Prime Minister insisted there was no urgent need for motorists to queue at the pumps.
Then, in a clumsy attempt to calm criticism of the new ‘pasty tax’ announced in last week’s Budget, David Cameron declared his love of Cornish pasties at a Downing Street press conference.
He said he had only recently eaten a delicious one from the West Cornwall Pasty Company on Leeds station.
Unfortunately it was later revealed that the shop he claimed to have bought the pasty from closed down five years ago.
The Roads Minister Mike Penning went further saying it was a 'mistake' by Mr Maude to suggest drivers fill up their jerry cans.
Bizarre: The Prime Minister, pictured yesterday at Downing Street with Princess Anne, professed to be a fan of Cornish pasties during a day of high farce and panic at Number 10
Mr Penning told BBC's Newsnight: 'He didn't understand the size of the jerry cans.'
He also said no one from Unite had raised concerns with him over the issues of health and safety, and said it was over the issue of 'pay' that tanker drivers would go on strike.
He added: 'What we are trying to do is get the common sense approach, if the strike goes ahead we will have shortages so let's make sure people understand that and go forward.
'There isn't a strike but a strike is likely to happen. It is common sense... that if there is likely to a strike don't queue in the garages, but if you are passing the garage and you are on a quarter or a half a tank top up now because there is no strike.'
Meanwhile Labour leader Ed Miliband and his Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls sought to capitalise on the Government’s discomfort by ostentatiously turning up at a branch of Greggs to tuck in to hot sausage rolls.
However, this was a thinly veiled attempt to deflect attention from their own deep embarrassment over the tanker drivers’ strike, which has been called by the Unite union – Labour’s biggest backer. Critics say Mr Miliband’s refusal to condemn the strike, which would bring chaos to the roads and empty shelves to the supermarkets, is because he is terrified the union’s hard-Left leader Len McCluskey might bankrupt the party by pulling the plug on the funding that it gives it.
Throughout the day there was an air of unease and confusion around Downing Street.
Petrol stations began rationing fuel and the Army was put on standby as ministers were accused of spreading panic. Fire brigade unions warned that Mr Maude’s jerry can advice was positively dangerous – and potentially illegal.
The Prime Minister attempted to strike a more measured tone, insisting there was ‘no need to queue’ to buy fuel but urging people to ‘take sensible precautions’.
On one of the Coalition’s most presentationally difficult days to date, Mr Cameron then found himself answering questions about plans to slap VAT on items of hot takeaway fare that are currently exempt.
As Olympics boss Jacques Rogge, in London for talks on the summer Games, looked on in bemusement, the Prime Minister declared his love of Cornish pasties at a Downing Street press conference.
The Prime Minister was apparently trying to regain the initiative after critics said Chancellor George Osborne’s tax changes demonstrated that the Government was out of touch with ordinary people.
Now garages are rationing petrol: Cameron calls in military to break tanker driver strike
Fuel rationing returned to forecourts last night as the Army was put at the centre of plans to break a national strike by militant tanker drivers.
As ministers were accused of spreading panic, David Cameron sought to seize control by drawing up plans to store petrol at military depots and to fast-track the training of troops to drive tankers.
Motoring groups, however, said the Government had helped create a sense of crisis by suggesting drivers should fill up their tanks – while firemen’s unions warned one minister’s advice to store jerry cans full of fuel at home was both dangerous and potentially illegal.
Scroll down to see the Prime Minister's reaction to strike threats
Closed: Police had to shut down this garage in Christchurch, Dorset, because the tailback of cars was causing a hazard to traffic as motorists made a desperate bid to top up following news of possible fuel tanker strikes
Filling up: Drivers start to queue for fuel at Morrison's near Liverpool John Lennon Airport following news of a possible strike
Soldiers at the ready: Army personnel are being trained to drive the tankers and are on standby to maintain essential supplies
Despite officials insisting there was no cause for panic, long queues and soaring prices were seen at many forecourts, with some petrol stations imposing limits of as little as £10 on purchases.
In other developments:
- Sales of petrol were up 45 per cent compared to normal, and sales of diesel up 20 per cent;
- Unions said a strike could deplete petrol stocks within two days;
- RAF personnel began training to drive tankers, while officials drew up plans to use ‘rubberised military containers’ to store fuel;
- Labour leader Ed Miliband again refused to condemn the strike, led by Unite, which has given Labour £5million since he became leader;
- Retailers urged both ministers and motorists to keep a ‘cool head’.
'Self-fulfilling fuel crisis': Chaos reigned on garage forecourts yesterday as motorists made a desperate bid to top up their tanks
Blunder: Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude suggested motorists fill up jerry cans, right, to avoid shortages
Stockpiling: A van driver fills two cans at a Esso petrol station, in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, left, while a motorist carries out the same task at an Asda forecourt in West Bridgford, Nottingham
Downing Street dismissed Labour claims that it was deliberately stoking up anxiety in an attempt to highlight the Opposition’s links with Unite.
On Tuesday, No 10 urged motorists to make ‘contingency plans’ for a strike by drivers who are demanding minimum standards on pay, hours, holiday and redundancy.
Unite represents around 2,000 drivers who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages, as well as supermarkets including Sainsbury’s and Tesco, covering 90 per cent of the nation’s forecourts.
Still delivering: Petrol tanker drivers, leaving Stanlow Oil Refinery, in Ellesmere Port Cheshire, ahead of a possible strike that may start in two weeks
Closed: The petrol station at Asda in Trafford Park, Manchester, is closed after it ran out of fuel
Nothing left: The petrol station at ASDA in Trafford Park, Manchester, is closed after it ran out of fuel this afternoon
Notice: A sign urging customers to avoid panic buying and stop at 50 litres at an Esso petrol station in Liverpool today
Wry: Pugh's take on the strike threat
Ministers only expect half of drivers to walk out if the strike goes ahead. Though no date has been set, and the union has to give seven days’ notice, April 8 and 9 have been identified as likely dates for action to begin.
The Government hopes motorists will keep their cars topped up before a strike – rather than driving with the fuel tank half empty – so the country can keep moving in the event of any temporary shortages.
But even as Downing Street was trying to calm panic buying yesterday morning, Mr Maude compounded confusion by advising people to store jerry cans full of fuel at home.
‘There are lives at risk if this action goes ahead as well as massive inconvenience to millions of people up and down the country,’ the Cabinet Office minister said.
‘The greater the extent to which people have petrol fuel in their vehicles, with maybe a little bit in the garage as well, in a jerry can, the longer we will be able to keep things going.’
The Fire Brigades’ Union immediately called on Mr Maude to withdraw the advice, claiming it would ‘massively increase’ fire and explosion risks.
Waiting patiently: Cars queue waiting for fuel ahead of the weekend on Great Howard Street, Liverpool causing traffic congestion on the busy main road
Motorists pictured filling up in Belle Vale, Liverpool today. The strike could hit the Easter weekend
Drivers fill their cars up in Bristol this morning even though the AA said people should not panic buy fuel
Pressure at the pumps: Drivers queue for petrol in Waterlooville, Hampshire yesterday. Government officials warned motorists to prepare for a rolling national strike by militant tanker drivers
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: ‘This is not sensible advice. The general public does not properly understand the fire and explosion risk of storing fuel, even if it was done sensibly.
‘Those without garages may be tempted to store fuel in the home. In the event of a fire in the house or a neighbouring property, it would be disastrous.
'It is already against the law to store more than ten litres of petrol in two five-litre plastic containers in the home.
'As that amounts to little more than a third of a tank in most cars, the advice is of little practical help.'
A motorist fills up his tank at a Liverpool petrol station following news of a possible strike as staff leave signs urging drivers not to panic buy
Cars wait at the Shell garage in Edinburgh with staff trying to control the flow of traffic
More queuing in Liverpool. Cabinet Minister Francis Maude has said people should fill up jerry cans with petrol in case of a shortage
Brian Madderson, of RMI Petrol, which represents independent forecourt operators, said: ‘This Government appears intent on creating a crisis out of a serious concern.
'We believe cool heads must prevail here otherwise we are going to run out of stock rather quickly. By cool heads that means the Government as well.’
Geoff Dunning, of the Road Haulage Association, said there was no real difference ‘between what people call panic-buying and prudent precautions’.
The Prime Minister denied the Government was trying to ‘raise the temperature’ in the dispute, saying the Government was delivering a ‘very calm, very sensible’ message but there was ‘absolutely no justification’ for a strike.
‘I do not want a strike to take place, I hope the talks will be successful. But in government you always have to prepare for any eventuality.
‘The British people would expect that. To the British people themselves I would say look, there is no imminent strike. The unions would have to give seven days’ notice of any strike so there is no need to to queue to buy petrol.
‘If there is an opportunity to top up your tank if a strike is potentially on the way, then it is a sensible thing if you are able to do that.’
... and Ed STILL sits on the fence
Union man: Ed Miliband has refused to denounce the strike threats by Labour's biggest paymaster Unite
Ed Miliband refused to condemn the fuel strike yesterday as his party’s biggest union paymaster threatened to hold the country to ransom.
The Labour leader called for talks and said the industrial action should be ‘avoided at all costs’.
But he repeatedly refused to condemn the threat of strikes or speak out against Unite, the hardline union that has called for the walkout.
The Labour leader said the Government must do the ‘responsible thing’ and come to an agreement with strikers.
He said: ‘We don’t want to see industrial action, it must be avoided at all costs, and the best way to make that happen is for the Government to tell both sides, to instruct them, to say, “You’ve got to negotiate.”
‘That’s what’s in the interests of the people of Britain and that’s what’s got to happen.’
But asked if he could step in and influence Unite, Mr Miliband said: ‘There are a set of issues the employees are concerned about, there’s a set of issues they need to talk to the employers about, and they’ve said they want to get round the table.’
The Tories seized on Mr Miliband’s obfuscation and called on Labour to refuse to take any more money from Unite.
Conservative Party co-chairman Baroness Warsi said: ‘This irresponsible strike would disrupt families’ lives, hurt businesses and damage our economy.
‘Ed Miliband must get off the fence, bring his influence to bear and tell his union paymasters to call off this strike. Until they do, he should not take a penny more from the Unite union barons.’
The dispute has erupted over working conditions, but Unite has also complained that tanker drivers’ pay has been cut. However, fuel tanker drivers are already paid double the salary of ordinary haulage drivers, pocketing about £45,000 a year.
Labour rejected calls for Mr Miliband to condemn the proposed strike, accusing the Government of using the confrontation to distract attention from the Budget and cash-for-access scandal.
A senior source said: ‘What has happened here is that the Government is politicising this fuel dispute by stirring up this confrontation. They are aggravating a dispute when they should be solving it in order to get themselves out of a political hole.’
But a Downing Street source close to Mr Cameron hit back, saying: ‘They are terrified that they are bankrolled by the union that is threatening to bring the country to its knees.’
VIDEO: There is absolutely no justification for a strike - David Cameron
VIDEO: George Osborne's appearance at the Treasury Select Committee started the 'pasty tax' debate
