With Gas Pumps Running Dry, Britain Deploys Army – Reuters

By James Davey and Andrew MacAskill

LONDON – Beginning Monday, the British government is deploying military tanker drivers to replenish fuel supplies at gas stations, many of which remained out of fuel following a turbulent week marked by panic-buying, confrontations at the pumps, and drivers filling water bottles with petrol.

The ongoing shortage of truck drivers has placed significant strain on supply chains, prompting the government to announce that 200 military personnel, including 100 drivers, will finish their training over the weekend and commence deliveries on Monday.

"While the situation is improving, our Armed Forces are stepping in to fill vital gaps and help ensure the flow of fuel to service stations," stated Defence Minister Ben Wallace.

The labor shortages stemming from Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused disruptions across various sectors, impacting the supply of fuel, medicines, and leaving over 100,000 pigs without a place for processing.

Retailers reported that more than 2,000 gas stations were out of fuel, with reports from across London and southern England indicating that many pumps were still closed. Long queues of frustrated drivers formed outside the stations that remained operational.

"I am completely fed up. Why is the country not ready for anything?" expressed Ata Uriakhil, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Afghanistan, as he waited in line with over 40 other vehicles outside a closed supermarket petrol station in Richmond. "When is it going to end? The politicians aren’t doing their jobs properly. The government should have been prepared for this crisis. It’s sheer incompetence."

Uriakhil added that he has incurred a loss of around 20% of his usual earnings due to time spent waiting for fuel rather than picking up passengers.

According to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), reports indicated that 26% of fuel pumps were dry, with 27% having only one type of fuel available and 47% adequately stocked with petrol and diesel.

Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, noted, "Independents, which constitute 65% of the entire network, are not receiving enough fuel deliveries compared to other sectors such as supermarkets."

Ministers asserted that the world is facing a global shortage of truck drivers, and they are actively working to alleviate the situation. They denied that the issues were solely due to the departure of EU workers following Brexit and have downplayed fears of impending shortages and power outages during the winter months.

While other nations are also experiencing shortages of truck drivers, EU countries have not encountered similar fuel crises.

In response to the ongoing issues, the Conservative government has shifted its position on foreign workers, allowing some to enter the country for three months to fill trucking roles and address gaps in the poultry sector.

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer criticized the government’s response, stating, "The Prime Minister should take emergency action today, but yet again he’s failed to acknowledge the seriousness of this crisis. If legislation is needed, then let’s recall Parliament."

In addition to the disruptions surrounding fuel stations, farmers are voicing concerns that a lack of butchers and abattoir workers could necessitate the culling of tens of thousands of pigs.

The pig industry has urged retailers to prioritize purchasing local pork instead of cheaper EU alternatives, warning that without immediate support, businesses could go under and livestock would face culling.

The weekly pig slaughter rate has decreased by 25% since August, as the pandemic and post-Brexit immigration regulations have compounded existing labor shortages in the meat processing industry.

The National Pig Association indicated that approximately 120,000 pigs are currently backed up on UK farms due to labor issues in processing plants, adding that some might have to be culled on-site.

Despite ongoing efforts to persuade the government to revise immigration rules, the Pig Association expressed frustration, noting an apparent deadlock in negotiations.