A well-timed minor panic

Most people think the government created an unnecessary crisis last week by warning motorists to top up their tanks. Even their sympathisers have been reduced to admitting that they would have been damned whatever they did.  Now the tanker drivers strike risk has receded, they look foolish.  But not to me.

Over the next few weeks, so long as the strike threat remains, motorists will likely keep their tanks a bit more topped up than usual. No more queues will be caused, because they’ve already moved a couple of days sales from forecourts to cars.  And done it in advance of the strike. For the cost of a minor panic, the government has significantly increased the coutry’s resiliance to withstand a strike when it comes. Well done Maude.

Jim Thornton