Petrol, pasties and the politics of panic: No.10 shambles over drivers hoarding fuel, and the tax on takeaway food

MailOnline by James Chapman and Ray Massey
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How far are we from this situation in this country?

Ministers appear to give conflicting advice on how motorists should cope with threatened fuel strike

Cameron tries to seize control of crisis as panic plays out at the pumps

Then PM declares his love of Cornish pasties in an attempt to calm criticism of new 'pasty tax'

Meanwhile, RAF personnel train to operate fuel lorries to counter walk-out

Francis Maude stokes chaos by advising drivers to fill up spare jerry cans

Firefighters say message would 'massively increase' fire and explosion risks

Sales of petrol up 45 per cent yesterday compared to a normal Tuesday

Miliband STILL refuses to condemn Unite, Labour's biggest union paymaster

Filling up the family car and buying a hot snack are two of the simple realities of everyday life.

But yesterday they conspired to plunge the Government into a day which veered between high farce and panic.

First, ministers appeared to give conflicting advice on how motorists should cope with threatened fuel shortages caused by a looming strike by militant tanker drivers MORE.............