Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has stated that there is no shortage of fuel in UK refineries, urging the public to continue normal behaviour and avoid panic-buying. His comments come amid reports that some petrol stations have been forced to close due to supply chain issues.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Shapps attributed the disruption to Covid-19, which he said had exacerbated long-term systemic problems with lorry driver recruitment. The pandemic created a bottleneck in HGV driver testing, reducing the number of qualified drivers available.
When asked whether he would relax rules to allow European drivers to fill vacancies, Shapps did not provide a direct answer. The government faces pressure to address the shortage, which has led to queues and frustration at petrol stations across the country.
