Don’t panic buy, Britain tells consumers as BP shuts gas stations – Reuters UK

Don’t panic buy, Britain tells consumers as BP shuts gas stations – Reuters UK

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Oil giant BP said on Thursday it was having to temporarily close some petrol filling stationsin Britain because of a lack of truck drivers, hours after a junior minister cautioned the public not to panic buy amid fears of food shortages.

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said Britain was not heading back into a 1970s-style "winter of discontent" of strikes and power shortages amid widespread problems caused by supply chain issues.

Soaring wholesale European natural gas prices have sent shockwaves through energy, chemicals and steel producers, and strained supply chains which were already creaking due to insufficient labour and the tumult of Brexit.