Petrol, pasties and the politics of panic: No.10 shambles over drivers hoarding fuel, and the tax on takeaway food
By JAMES CHAPMAN and RAY MASSEY
PUBLISHED: 09:14 EST, 27 March 2012 UPDATED: 19:50 EST, 28 March 2012
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1qTH9JSuu
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By JAMES CHAPMAN and RAY MASSEY
PUBLISHED: 09:14 EST, 27 March 2012 UPDATED: 19:50 EST, 28 March 2012
Comments (125
Share
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1qTH9JSuu
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