Britain Deploys Military to Address Fuel Crisis Amid Ongoing Driver Shortage, Reports Reuters

By Andrew Boyers

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England – British military personnel in combat uniforms arrived at a fuel storage facility on Monday following a government directive for the army to assist in fuel delivery amid an acute shortage of truck drivers, as reported by a Reuters correspondent.

The UK’s supply chains for essential goods, including pork, petrol, poultry, medicines, and milk, have been severely strained due to labor shortages following the disruptions caused by Brexit and the COVID pandemic.

Last week, panic buying of fuel led to chaotic scenes in major cities, with long queues of drivers. Incidents of conflicts over fuel pumps arose, and some individuals resorted to hoarding petrol in makeshift containers.

"To ensure safety, we have deployed additional drivers," stated Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in an interview. "The situation has been improving for over a week now. As demand returns to normal levels, we expect things to resolve themselves."

Despite some easing, reports indicate that numerous gas stations remain closed across London and southern England, with drivers still forming lines outside those that are operational.

According to the Petrol Retailers Association, approximately 22% of fuel stations in London and the southeast are still out of fuel. Executive Director Gordon Balmer mentioned it could take one to two weeks for fuel supplies to stabilize.

UK government officials have consistently rejected any connection between the fuel crisis and Brexit, labeling the truck driver shortage as a global issue, in contrast to other European countries that have not faced such gas station queues. Sunak emphasized, "The HGV driver situation is not unique to the UK; it’s a challenge across Europe and beyond. We are taking all possible steps to address these issues."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson noted on Sunday that he would not revert to "uncontrolled immigration" as a solution for the ongoing fuel, gas, and holiday food shortages, characterizing the difficulties as part of the post-Brexit transition.

Meanwhile, farmers have sounded alarms regarding a shortage of butchers and workers in slaughterhouses, which could lead to the culling of over 100,000 pigs currently on farms.

Further complicating matters, climate change activists brought traffic in London to a halt on Monday by blocking key routes. About 50 members of Insulate Britain, an organization advocating for government commitment to insulating 29 million homes, obstructed major access points, including the Blackwall Tunnel and a bridge over the River Thames.

Authorities reported making 38 arrests in response to the protests.