The United Kingdom has been hit with days of long queues at filling stations and pump closures as fuel crises mount following truck driver shortages.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticized for not addressing the fuel crisis.
The Prime Minister has continued to avoid public scrutiny over the petrol crisis and has now been accused of “hiding” by a former government aide.
Boris Johnson must stop “hiding away” and tell the British public to stop the panic buying of petrol, according to the former government planning chief who managed the fuel crisis of 2000.
Mike Granatt, the ex-head of the civil contingencies secretariat, said it was time for the prime minister to make a clear announcement about the scale of the fuel crisis.
“It’s called leadership. Somebody needs to stand up and say this to people rather than hideaway,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Mike Granat, head of the Civil Secretariat, who appeared on BBC Radio show spoke to TODAY host Nick Robinson said. He praised former prime minister Tony Blair for solving the fuel crisis in 2000.
He said: “What happened in late 2000 is that the Prime Minister got hold of this stuff, stood shoulder to shoulder with the fuel operators and held a press conference and explained to the people [what was going on]”
Granat claimed that people began to behave normally only when they realized that it would take three weeks for the system to rebalance.
Robinson then asked: “Are you suggesting there’s a kind of COVID-style news conference, Boris Johnson has to say to the country, ‘Don’t fill up your tank, get petrol if you need it, but when Will there be chaos in the coming weeks until you go back to normal behavior?’”
Granat said: “Yeah, it’s called leadership. We need something. Someone needs to stand up and say this to people instead of hiding.
“I think this excuse about party conventions is just that – an excuse.”
Robinson replied: “Well, of course, they [ministers] You’re welcome to come to the event, he just needs to pick up the phone, we’ll be happy to interview him this week.”
Tuesday was a particularly important day, as Downing Street has changed its message to engage the military with supply chains.
On Monday, the government said it had no plans to engage troops in the current crisis, which stems from a shortage of HGV drivers.
As of Monday evening, Downing Street confirmed that soldiers were being trained to operate petrol tankers as the military was put on standby, although they have not yet been deployed.
According to reports, 75 military tankers are already ready to go, while 75 more may move soon.
The explanation behind this U-turn has not yet been addressed by any minister.
