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| Petrol strike threat: PM advises topping up | Petrol strike threat: PM advises topping up |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The government has urged people to take "sensible precautions" in case a strike by fuel tanker drivers goes ahead. | The government has urged people to take "sensible precautions" in case a strike by fuel tanker drivers goes ahead. |
| PM David Cameron said there was no need to queue but motorists should top up their tanks, and Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude advised storing petrol in a jerrycan in their garage. | PM David Cameron said there was no need to queue but motorists should top up their tanks, and Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude advised storing petrol in a jerrycan in their garage. |
| Drivers with the Unite union, who supply 90% of UK forecourts, have voted to strike over terms and conditions. | Drivers with the Unite union, who supply 90% of UK forecourts, have voted to strike over terms and conditions. |
| The civil contingencies committee Cobra will meet later to discuss plans. | The civil contingencies committee Cobra will meet later to discuss plans. |
| Mr Cameron said: "There is no imminent strike. The unions would have to give seven days' notice of any strike so there is no need to queue to buy petrol. | Mr Cameron said: "There is no imminent strike. The unions would have to give seven days' notice of any strike so there is no need 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." | "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." |
| RAF training | RAF training |
| He added: "I absolutely do not want to raise the temperature on this any more than is necessary." | He added: "I absolutely do not want to raise the temperature on this any more than is necessary." |
| Mr Maude advised: "The greater extent to which people have fuel in their vehicles - maybe a little bit in the garage as well in a jerrycan - the longer we can keep things going." | Mr Maude advised: "The greater extent to which people have fuel in their vehicles - maybe a little bit in the garage as well in a jerrycan - the longer we can keep things going." |
| You could call it the Corporal Jones challenge. | You could call it the Corporal Jones challenge. |
| How does the government say "don't panic" about potential fuel shortages, without leading people to panic? | How does the government say "don't panic" about potential fuel shortages, without leading people to panic? |
| It's very tricky. We've had an insight into the balancing act it involves. | It's very tricky. We've had an insight into the balancing act it involves. |
| The newspapers reported the prime minister would chair a Cobra meeting on the fuel dispute. Cobra is often described as the government's national emergencies committee. | The newspapers reported the prime minister would chair a Cobra meeting on the fuel dispute. Cobra is often described as the government's national emergencies committee. |
| A Downing Street source certainly didn't steer us away from suggesting as much too. But that word "emergency" is a strong one. | A Downing Street source certainly didn't steer us away from suggesting as much too. But that word "emergency" is a strong one. |
| By mid-morning, Downing Street was saying that, whilst the meeting would happen in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, the place that gives its initials to the word Cobra, it wouldn't be a Cobra meeting. | By mid-morning, Downing Street was saying that, whilst the meeting would happen in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, the place that gives its initials to the word Cobra, it wouldn't be a Cobra meeting. |
| Then David Cameron told reporters that, in fact, it would be a Cobra meeting. But we shouldn't panic. | Then David Cameron told reporters that, in fact, it would be a Cobra meeting. But we shouldn't panic. |
| Earlier, Downing Street dismissed claims it caused "panic" over the threatened fuel strike by urging motorists to make "contingency plans" such as filling up. | Earlier, Downing Street dismissed claims it caused "panic" over the threatened fuel strike by urging motorists to make "contingency plans" such as filling up. |
| Labour described the comments as the "height of irresponsibility" for giving the impression people should panic-buy. | Labour described the comments as the "height of irresponsibility" for giving the impression people should panic-buy. |
| But No 10 said it had alerted drivers to the possibility of disruption in "a calm-headed and sensible way". | But No 10 said it had alerted drivers to the possibility of disruption in "a calm-headed and sensible way". |
| At the Cobra meeting, Mr Cameron will be briefed on measures to minimise the possible impact of any strike, including using military drivers, the possibility of recruiting foreign tanker drivers and setting up fuel stockpiles. | At the Cobra meeting, Mr Cameron will be briefed on measures to minimise the possible impact of any strike, including using military drivers, the possibility of recruiting foreign tanker drivers and setting up fuel stockpiles. |
| They will also discuss the impact a strike would have on the emergency services, other vital services and supermarket deliveries. | They will also discuss the impact a strike would have on the emergency services, other vital services and supermarket deliveries. |
| There are plans to put military personnel through an eight-day training course to enable them to take the place of striking drivers behind the wheel of commercial tankers. | There are plans to put military personnel through an eight-day training course to enable them to take the place of striking drivers behind the wheel of commercial tankers. |
| The BBC has learned that more than 80 "highly qualified" drivers from the Royal Air Force will begin initial training by one oil haulage firm on Wednesday. | The BBC has learned that more than 80 "highly qualified" drivers from the Royal Air Force will begin initial training by one oil haulage firm on Wednesday. |
| Mr Cameron said there was "absolutely no justification" for a strike and earlier Chancellor George Osborne and Energy Secretary Ed Davey warned it could damage economic recovery. | Mr Cameron said there was "absolutely no justification" for a strike and earlier Chancellor George Osborne and Energy Secretary Ed Davey warned it could damage economic recovery. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband urged the unions, company chiefs and the government to hold talks to avoid a strike. | Labour leader Ed Miliband urged the unions, company chiefs and the government to hold talks to avoid a strike. |
| "My message to all sides... is to make sure they get round the table and sort out the problem. | "My message to all sides... is to make sure they get round the table and sort out the problem. |
| "Look, we know we can't afford a strike, we know that mustn't happen and the way that's got to be stopped is with proper negotiations, and that's what I want to see happen." | "Look, we know we can't afford a strike, we know that mustn't happen and the way that's got to be stopped is with proper negotiations, and that's what I want to see happen." |
| There have been reports of panic-buying at some fuel stations. | |
| Timetable for talks | Timetable for talks |
| Simon Lane, from Leicester, said his local garage in Groby ran out of diesel and unleaded petrol after "panic buying" involving "huge queues". | Simon Lane, from Leicester, said his local garage in Groby ran out of diesel and unleaded petrol after "panic buying" involving "huge queues". |
| "It is usually a busy petrol station but I have never seen queues on to the main road before, it was very dangerous," he said. | "It is usually a busy petrol station but I have never seen queues on to the main road before, it was very dangerous," he said. |
| Jim Wardle, from Chesterfield, said he saw a man fill up his Range Rover then buy the last six petrol cans and fill them while complaining about people voting to strike. | Jim Wardle, from Chesterfield, said he saw a man fill up his Range Rover then buy the last six petrol cans and fill them while complaining about people voting to strike. |
| "It was pandemonium at the Clay Cross petrol station. No-one was really saying much but everyone knew why it was busier than normal," he said. | "It was pandemonium at the Clay Cross petrol station. No-one was really saying much but everyone knew why it was busier than normal," he said. |
| Oil giant Esso said it was open for business as usual but had seen increased demand in some areas. | |
| "Some sites may temporarily be out of one or two types of fuel," it said in a statement. | |
| But Shell said it had not heard of any increased demand and it was "business as normal". | |
| Meanwhile, conciliation service Acas said it would contact the five oil firms affected and the Unite union to agree a timetable for talks aimed at resolving their differences. | Meanwhile, conciliation service Acas said it would contact the five oil firms affected and the Unite union to agree a timetable for talks aimed at resolving their differences. |
| Workers involved in the dispute over terms, conditions and safety standards have already voted to walk out. | Workers involved in the dispute over terms, conditions and safety standards have already voted to walk out. |
| Unite, the UK's biggest union, is meeting on Wednesday to consider its next step. It has already said it wants minimum standards covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. | Unite, the UK's biggest union, is meeting on Wednesday to consider its next step. It has already said it wants minimum standards covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. |
| The union represents about 2,000 drivers who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages, as well as supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's. | The union represents about 2,000 drivers who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages, as well as supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's. |
| Are you putting any contingency plans in place for the fuel strike? Are you affected? Please fill in the form below if you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC. | Are you putting any contingency plans in place for the fuel strike? Are you affected? Please fill in the form below if you are willing to be interviewed by the BBC. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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