Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain(reuters.com)
reuters.com
Pumps run dry at gas stations in Britain
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-gas-stations-are-running-dry-english-cities-retailers-association-says-2021-09-27/
332 comments
> "The free movement of labour is part of the European Union, and we tried very hard to convince the British not to leave the Union," said Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor. "They decided differently. I hope they will manage the problems coming from that," Scholz said.
Man, I can smell the schadenfreude from all the way over here.
Man, I can smell the schadenfreude from all the way over here.
Not suggesting that there are not other factors (Brexit, Covid etc) but the media have to shoulder the "panic" element of this.
E.g. stop publishing photos of queueing cars and cordoned off pumps and report purely on the statistics of the matter. Too many media outlets are entirely hell bent on getting clicks without a care for the furore they induce in the general public as a result.
Social media does of course amplify the messages and images the media put out, so they compound the issue.
E.g. stop publishing photos of queueing cars and cordoned off pumps and report purely on the statistics of the matter. Too many media outlets are entirely hell bent on getting clicks without a care for the furore they induce in the general public as a result.
Social media does of course amplify the messages and images the media put out, so they compound the issue.
"British ministers have insisted that Brexit is nothing to do with the current trucker shortage."
BUT...
"The government on Sunday announced a plan to issue temporary visas for 5,000 foreign truck drivers."
The politicians think that everyone's dumb. If you need to pass temporary visas, a thing that truckers didn't needed when UK was in the EU, clearly Brexit caused this issue.
BUT...
"The government on Sunday announced a plan to issue temporary visas for 5,000 foreign truck drivers."
The politicians think that everyone's dumb. If you need to pass temporary visas, a thing that truckers didn't needed when UK was in the EU, clearly Brexit caused this issue.
This is all actually due to the initial phases of the inevitable collapse of the Galactic Empire, as foreseen by Hari Seldon.
It’s incredibly sad it’s come to this, but it’s an entirely self inflicted pain. Voters were lied to and this is the result.
Appears to be _mostly_ a mediagenic phenomenon: the driver shortage caused a few stations to run out, a minister told everyone not to panic buy, so they immediately started panic buying. Like the great toilet paper shortage.
The lorry driver shortage inflicted by Brexit is starting to cause problems, though.
The lorry driver shortage inflicted by Brexit is starting to cause problems, though.
Well... looks like the UK are the next in line to discover that paying people in essential industries shit wages leads to said shit outcomes.
Over many decades, employees in easy-to-learn and especially easy-to-outsource jobs were treated as disposable cogs, and now after Corona and other crisis crunches the whole house of cards comes crushing down.
Over many decades, employees in easy-to-learn and especially easy-to-outsource jobs were treated as disposable cogs, and now after Corona and other crisis crunches the whole house of cards comes crushing down.
People can only fill their tank, so it's self-limiting.
TBH I still think Brexit is a good choice for Britain. The EU is a terribly inefficient and hopeless organization (but perhaps I am a bit biased, I've always been opposed to the EU because it's far too heavy weight).
Of course, they will suffer economically for a while, but that was part of the game with Brexit.
The voters however - were slightly lied to regarding the immediate downsides. It's probably important to keep the big picture in mind.
Of course, they will suffer economically for a while, but that was part of the game with Brexit.
The voters however - were slightly lied to regarding the immediate downsides. It's probably important to keep the big picture in mind.
Seems strange that this has nothing at all to do with the rapidly rising prices of petrol in the UK.
Russia has been reducing the flow of petrol into Europe due to conflict over a new pipeline. The UK has a had a terrible windy season, meaning more demand for fossil fuels. And economic recovery after the pandemic, all these things have pushed prices really high.
This shortage of drivers thing is likely a convenient side story to distract from the fundamental issue of high prices.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/aug/04/uk-petrol-pric...
This shortage of drivers thing is likely a convenient side story to distract from the fundamental issue of high prices.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/aug/04/uk-petrol-pric...
The Mash nailed this last week
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/britain-facing-long-...
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/britain-facing-long-...
They are petrol stations.
Well it didn't take long after the apocalypse to go full Mad Max
Hopefully it is just another toilet roll craze.
Hopefully it is just another toilet roll craze.
Here is South Africa during our last Covid lockdown there were also a shortage going on. But then the government banned the selling of petrol to people who were bringing random containers, which apparently made up a big portion of the total sales.
It's OK everyone, the government says there is no shortage, so there isn't one. That's how it works in the New Sovereign UK.
Diesel too?
Solar + Battery + EV - No need for a pump, just sayin…
The media need to be held accountable here.
Everyone in the industry is telling anyone who will listen that there is no shortage of petrol (gas), and there is no shortage of drivers. Yet the media are still whipping the story because it’s selling papers/views/clicks etc for them.
This is yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre, when there is no fire. There should be prosecutions for this sort of behaviour. Lives will be put at risk or lost because of this.
And seriously, the public need to stop listening and believing the media. They have no morals, and they certainly do not care about truth.
To those downvoting: If there is still a “crisis” next week, I will eat my hat. There is no crisis. You know this. The media will have moved onto the next “crisis” they can manufacture.
From the article:
> Drivers queued for hours to fill their cars at petrol stations that were still selling fuel, albeit often rationed. There were also calls for National Health Service (NHS) workers to be given priority to keep hospitals open
That is just ridiculous. It’s so far removed from reality. Who queued for hours? Who in their right mind is suggesting hospitals might close? It’s just reckless reporting designed to make panic buying worse. And trying to link it to our decision to leave the EU years ago, is just utter desperation.
You all know this is BS, and that in a couple of days, once the story has peaked, and the media has moved onto something else, the “crisis” will be over.
Everyone in the industry is telling anyone who will listen that there is no shortage of petrol (gas), and there is no shortage of drivers. Yet the media are still whipping the story because it’s selling papers/views/clicks etc for them.
This is yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre, when there is no fire. There should be prosecutions for this sort of behaviour. Lives will be put at risk or lost because of this.
And seriously, the public need to stop listening and believing the media. They have no morals, and they certainly do not care about truth.
To those downvoting: If there is still a “crisis” next week, I will eat my hat. There is no crisis. You know this. The media will have moved onto the next “crisis” they can manufacture.
From the article:
> Drivers queued for hours to fill their cars at petrol stations that were still selling fuel, albeit often rationed. There were also calls for National Health Service (NHS) workers to be given priority to keep hospitals open
That is just ridiculous. It’s so far removed from reality. Who queued for hours? Who in their right mind is suggesting hospitals might close? It’s just reckless reporting designed to make panic buying worse. And trying to link it to our decision to leave the EU years ago, is just utter desperation.
You all know this is BS, and that in a couple of days, once the story has peaked, and the media has moved onto something else, the “crisis” will be over.
What concerns me is government planning to address this looks a lot more forward looking than a few days/a week, so I can see it getting worse.
Interesting how the government say it’s not a shortage, if the refineries were running low you wouldn’t say there’s no shortage as there’s plenty of crude lying under the sea bed. If I can’t buy petrol at the pump then for all intents and purposes it is a shortage.
I feel like there’s a chance here there is a systemic issue and “panic buyers” are a convenient scape goat as I think most people are just filling up to the top instead of half way, or going a little earlier than they would otherwise. No actors doing this would class themselves as panic buyers, but there’s a lot of vitriol and anger towards the concept of a panic buyer which is a convenient diversion away from other causes.