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It was petrol, not a pandemic, which dominated the headlines more than two decades ago when fuel price protests almost brought the country to a grinding halt.
With motorists already queuing to fill up their vehicles after some of the largest fuel operators said they would have to ration supplies over a HGV driver shortage, there are echoes of the September 2000 fuel crisis, which caused widespread disruption.
But although they seem similar, there are stark differences as the current crisis gripping the nation is down to a lack of HGV drivers getting petrol and diesel to stations, rather than a lack of fuel itself.
However, as places such as BP and Tesco have admitted being forced to close some pumps and stations due to the nationwide shortage of HGV drivers, for some drivers rushing to panic buy fuel, it is reminiscent of the Autumn 2000 shortage.
The 2000 fuel protests began in early September when the price of crude oil rose to £23 a barrel.
With campaigners warning that petrol could soon cost £4 a gallon and with Britain’s prices already being the highest in Europe, feelings of anger were unleashed and protests started after Downing Street ruled out a cut in fuel duties despite growing threats.
Truckers and farmers blockaded refineries and petrol stations ran dry and prices soared. The chaos culminated in panic buying, food shortages and 70 schools being closed around the country.
The crisis caught everyone off guard and protests escalated over a one week period from 8 to 14 September 2000 leaving some people unable to commute to work, motorways were blocked by lorry “go slows” and fears grew that the NHS would be hit and the blood transfusion service experienced difficulties.
Panic buying spread to supermarkets with some stores rationing bread and milk while Royal Mail slashed its services, council rubbish collections came under threat and the Army was put on standby.
On 14 September 2000, the blockade at Shell’s Stanlow oil refinery near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, where demonstrations began was lifted and protests at other sites followed suit and it all ended as suddenly as it began.
While increased home working in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic means the impact of a fresh fuel crisis is unlikely to affect as many commuters, it is a deeper problem with no quick-fix solution.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said he won’t rule out anything to resolve the issue – including deploying the army to drive petrol tankers.
Meanwhile, for those queuing at the pumps with the memory of the September 2000 crisis vivid in their minds, the government’s appeal for calm is not registering.
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