Prime Minister David Cameron urges petrol tanker drivers to withdraw their strike threat, but the Unite union will only agree to postpone industrial action until after easter.
Fuel companies are working “flat-out” to resupply petrol stations, the prime minister said, adding that the government is continuing with contingency plans to use the army to stand in for drivers in the event of strikes.
“It is absolutely vital we take the necessary steps to keep the country safe in case there is a strike,” he said.
Union members are to meet conciliation service Acas next week to discuss the health and safety concerns underpinning the strike threats.
“It is vitally important the trade union in question enters these talks on Monday constructively,” the prime minister said. “The most constructive thing they could do would be to call off the strike entirely.”
Even though strike action has been temporarily averted until mid April, petrol shortage fears remain, prompting long queues at some petrol stations and criticism of the government’s handling of the situation. Some garages had “sold out” or “food only” signs greeting car drivers.
At least one serious injury was linked to the panic when a York woman transferring petrol between containers in her kitchen was badly burned as the vapours ignited. Diane Hill, of Acomb, York, was decanting petrol when it set fire to her clothing, North Yorkshire fire and rescue service said. It is believed she may have had the cooker on while she transferred the fuel.
“My heart goes out to her and her family,” the prime minister said. “Everything that can be done is being done to help her.”
Following news that Ms Hill suffered 40 per cent burns to her body, Toby Harris, a Labour peer, called for the resignation of Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, who advised people to fill up jerry cans with petrol.
“This woman was following advice from Govt Minister Francis Maude & ends up with 40% burns. Disgraceful. He shd resign,” Lord Harris tweeted.
Labour MP Karl Turner also turned to Twitter, calling for Mr Maude to step down if the two incidents were linked: “Francis Maude should resign if his politicking and unnecessary panic has led to York woman decanting petrol in kitchen.”
The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents about 5,500 garages, blamed the chaos on the UK government for advising motorists to keep tanks topped up.
Petrol sales shot up by 81 per cent and diesel by 43 per cent as motorists congregated on garages to fill up, following advice from ministers, the AA said.
“There is no fuel tanker strike and therefore if drivers followed normal fuel-buying patterns, there would be no fuel shortage whatsoever,” Edmund King, president of the AA, said.