The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) held discussions with government ministers at Number 11 Downing Street on Friday, following a week of escalating fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The meeting, initially threatened with cancellation by the PRA due to what it termed “inflammatory language” from politicians, concluded with a commitment to “constructive discussion” and collaborative efforts, according to PRA representative Gordon Balmer.
The surge in prices began after the United States and Israel launched air-strikes on the Iranian capital, Tehran, on February 28th, triggering a rapid increase in the cost of oil, petrol, and diesel. Ann Meek, director of Maghull Coaches in Merseyside, described the situation as increasingly precarious for her family-run business, founded around 1970. “Last year it was national insurance, now it’s the fuel and you get to a point where you think how long can we keep this going for,” she said.
Maghull Coaches operates both scheduled tours – including City Explorer open top bus tours and a Beatles Tour – and school contracts, with pricing for the tours set at the beginning of the season and school contract costs largely pre-agreed. Meek explained the difficulty of adjusting to the rising costs. “It’s a particularly tricky conversation because at the moment everything is just going up,” she said. “Everything the government seems to do, you’re going to have to put your prices up, and your staff want more money, but you get to a stage where you can’t charge enough, really, to cover everything.”
The impact extends beyond coach operators. Cab driver Arthur Grimes voiced frustration with the volatility of the fuel market, stating, “It goes up like a rock, it comes down like a feather. It’s been going on for years.” He further characterized the market as a “rip off,” adding, “Diesel should be cheaper than petrol, anyway, because it’s easier to refine.”
During the meeting, Chancellor Rachel Reeves urged fuel retailers to accept a “shared obligation” to maintain affordable prices for motorists. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added a firm stance, stating, “We won’t tolerate unfair practices either here or anywhere else in the industry.”
The PRA represents independent fuel retailers, who now account for 65% of all UK forecourts, providing a voice for businesses of all sizes. Balmer, following the meeting, affirmed the association’s commitment to working with the government, but no specific policy changes or immediate relief measures were announced.
