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Government Cannot Confirm 'Very Sensitive' Petrol Talks Due to Panic Buying Fears
The department said even acknowledging the material could trigger mass purchasing at pumps and add to volatility in fuel prices and inflation.
- Ministers refused to confirm or deny whether The Department produced briefing notes on petrol and diesel prices, citing risks of panic buying. The Department said it could "neither confirm nor deny" the existence of documents.
- Rising inflation driven by petrol and diesel costs linked to the Middle East prompted supply concerns. The Department claimed acknowledging such briefings could spark "mass purchasing" at pumps and "economic damage."
- Officials cited fears that transparency could trigger supply chain strain and market volatility. This approach is usually reserved for national security matters, making its use on a cost-of-living issue highly unusual.
- Echoes of past fuel shortages influenced the decision to limit disclosure. Ministers are "actively considering options" to address how the Middle East conflict affects consumers and prevent supply chain disruptions.
- Responding to the Press Association, The Department argued that releasing information would impact crude oil prices, causing volatility in UK financial markets. Officials claimed this would further distort fuel costs for consumers.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
The Northern Echo+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
Government cannot confirm 'very sensitive' petrol talks due to panic buying fears
The government will not say if fuel briefings exist, citing fears of panic buying and economic damage.
·County Durham, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution76% Center
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources are Center
76% Center
L 18%
C 76%
Factuality
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