Government U-Turn On Jerry Can Storage

After breaching Health and Safety laws by telling motorists to fill up Jerry Cans, the Government has changed its stance, saying "top up when you need to."

Francis Maude, the Cabinet Secretary, yesterday urged people to "keep a little [petrol] in your garage at home". Under the strict government regulations, you cannot store fuel inside your house and the maximum you can store in a garage or outhouse is two 5L plastic cans or two 10L metal cans.

However this morning the energy secretary Ed Davey discredited Mr Maude's advice saying drivers should just top up when they need to. 

Energy Secretary Ed Davey

Speaking on BBC Breakfast he said: "There's no scientific figures of how much to have but if you're passing a station top up. Just fill up when you can".

Mr Davey also suggested that if possible don't let your tank slip below half full and even if you're watching the pounds make sure you fill completely up whilst at the stations.

Despite all this no strike has been agreed and if it were to be, a 7 day notice period must be given. Members of the Labour party have blamed the coalition government and its earlier advice for the shortage in fuel and the panic causing it. The Conservatives were quick to jump on the links between the Labour party and the union for tanker drivers, Unite.

Fuel Blockade Queues in 2000

Nobody wants to see a repeat of the chaos of the Fuel Blockade in September 2000, when the country came to a standstill. Should the strike go ahead, contingencies will be put in place. Soldiers are being trained to drive fuel tankers, whilst rationing measures are being weighed up.