WE'RE NOT FUELS
PM says fuel crisis ‘stabilising’ despite ‘critical’ shortage in London and Army being called in
BORIS Johnson has insisted the fuel crisis is "stabilising" - despite industry experts branding the situation in London "critical".
With soldiers set to begin delivering fuel to forecourts from Monday to ease mounting fury from drivers, the Prime Minister has said the shortage is down to "demand not supply".
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But although petrol prices are primed to jump again in the coming days and warnings the crisis is worsening in areas, Mr Johnson has claimed the situation is easing.
"I appreciate how frustrating it has been, how infuriating it has been for people - the situation is stabilising," he told Sky News.
"It's a problem that's been driven really by demand not by supply, though obviously we are taking all the precautions that we can.
"You need to take all possible precautions but the supplies are getting in, they're getting to the forecourts and people need to be going about their business in the normal way."
The PM's attempt at downplaying fears comes as industry experts said gas stations in London and southeast England are set to continue to suffer a lack of fuel.
"It is much better in the north and Scotland, and London and the south east really remain the critical area going forward into next week," PRA Chairman Brian Madderson said.
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Meanwhile, a petrol station charging almost £3 per litre sold out as Britain's fuel shortage gets worse in some areas.
Gulf station in west London, is charging desperate fuel-short Brits £2.93 per litre to top up - double its normal £1.98-per-litre charge.
Countless pumps are still running on empty nation-wide, with the fuel crisis a "really big problem" in London and the South East, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA).
Queues of drivers snaked along roads outside petrol stations from 1am this morning with drivers desperate to be the first-in-line for opening.
Now, 200 soldiers are set to start delivering petrol on Monday in a bid to end the crisis after going through a crash HGV course.
In a frantic bid to avoid running out - and to capitalise on the rush for petrol - the Gulf station in Sloane Avenue hiked up its cost to an eye-watering £2.93 per litre of Super Unleaded fuel.
But drivers weren't put off, with pumps selling out in a matter of hours.
And petrol and diesel prices could rise 3p per litre next week with a jump in wholesale fuel prices expected to be passed on to drivers at petrol pumps.
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