Petrol crisis in Great Britain – now soldiers have to drive tank trucks

Fearing that the petrol crisis in Great Britain would escalate further, the Boris Johnson government joined Military assistance was requested: Not for fighting, but for driving. Soldiers who are in a hurry to train tanker truck drivers are ready for a task. However, it was initially only about 150 soldiers, and it is said that the oil companies did not have about 1000 drivers to deliver their fuel to the filling stations. In addition, it takes about ten days to prepare those involved for such work.

Johnson’s critics have complained that the government has done “too late and too little” – and that the prime minister has “nothing to see” in the crisis. Meanwhile, access to gas stations on Tuesday was re-established with long queues, especially in urban areas in the UK. Many gas stations were closed due to lack of gas. Since last Saturday, British motorists have been panicking and trying to fill their tanks everywhere after BP previously reported delivery problems.

Fighting between annoying drivers

Running on pumps quickly exacerbated the problem – and filtered out many gas stations. Earlier in the week, the government hoped to see the first signs of “easing the situation”. However, at most petrol stations, the crowd was still high. In many places, police had to pull over to go to gas stations and prevent traffic jams. Errors between drivers have been reported from several petrol stations. Doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers complained vehemently that they could not do their job.

“We have a real problem with health workers not being able to do their jobs,” the British Medical Association said. “We can’t stand in line for petrol somewhere for two or three hours when we have to take care of our patients,” a spokesman said. Several unions have warned that petrol should be made available immediately to anyone who commits such acts – petrol is allocated to key employees through major petrol stations.

Economists in London wandered between fear and optimism yesterday. They said the economic damage would probably be limited if the situation eased in the coming week. However, if the crisis continues for a long time, job loss could have a devastating effect, a management adviser warned: “The lack of petrol, especially for trucks and delivery vehicles, will exacerbate the freight shortage.

Doubts were also raised by the government’s announcement 5000 extra work visas for truck drivers Wants to visualize from the EU and the rest of the world to rectify the situation in the short term. These visas are valid for three months. Due to the bureaucracy involved, such drivers cannot be expected to arrive by the end of October. The number of experts is considered to be very low at 5,000 as the supply of many more products is currently stalled. Anyway There is a shortage of about 100,000 qualified drivers In Great Britain.

“Most people don’t care if a truck is driven by a British or foreign driver.”

Rachel Reeves, Labor Party financial spokeswoman

Issuing 5,000 short-term visas is certainly difficult for the government – because it wanted to assign questionable jobs to British drivers after Brexit. Continental drivers are “reducing” their British counterparts, Johnson’s ministers have said several times over the past few days. Opposition Workers’ Party finance spokeswoman Rachel Reeves said government action was not enough: They can fill their cars with it and as long as there are groceries in our supermarkets. “

It would be completely open to European drivers whether they want to leave their jobs in the EU and go to Great Britain for three months to help there. The reaction of the Dutch Truck Drivers Association was quoted a lot on Tuesday. It said: “The EU drivers we spoke to will not come to the UK on a short-term visa to which they are responsible for the British.”

Posted: 09/28/2021, 4:57 pm

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