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The transport secretary has said “there’s plenty of fuel” in the country as he urged motorists to only fill up “when they need to”.

Grant Shapps was speaking on Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme as panicked motorists caused lengthy queues at petrol stations for a third day.

A shortage of fuel tanker drivers has forced some retailers to shut their pumps and ration sales.

As well as appearing to blame the public for the crisis, arguing if people filled their cars as normal there would not be a problem, the cabinet minister also accused a road haulage group of causing the “manufactured situation”, claiming it was “desperate to have more European drivers undercutting British salaries”.

Mr Shapps said: “I think the important thing to know is that within the country, at the six refineries and 47 storage facilities, there is plenty of fuel, there is no shortage of fuel within the country.

“So the most important thing is actually that if people carry on as they normally would and fill up their cars when they normally would, then you won’t have queues and you won’t have shortages at the pump either.

“It is not like we don’t have fuel in the country, we do need to just ensure people are filling up when they need to fill up rather than thinking, ‘I better go and fill up now just in case I need it next week or the week after’.”

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He made his comments as business leaders warned a visa scheme aimed at fixing a shortage of HGV drivers “will not be enough”.

The government is trying to ease supply chain pressures that have triggered panic-buying at the petrol pumps and shops struggling to fill their shelves around the country.

The measures announced so far include:

• 5,000 fuel tanker and food lorry drivers being allowed into the UK from overseas for three months until 24 December

• 5,000 poultry workers being allowed into the UK on the same terms

• Up to 4,000 people in the UK will be trained as new HGV drivers, including 3,000 on free “skills bootcamps” and 1,000 through local courses

• Driving test examiners deployed by the Ministry of Defence to increase testing capacity over the next three months

But the UK has an estimated shortfall of 100,000 HGV drivers, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

It was this group Mr Shapps appeared to take aim at when he accused a trade association for the haulage industry of “sparking” the supply “crisis” through “irresponsible briefings” to the public.

Although Mr Shapps did not name the body, the Mail on Sunday reported a government source stating the RHA was “entirely responsible for this panic and chaos”.

Asked whether the government had ignored warnings for months about an upcoming shortage from the food and drink industry, Mr Shapps told Sky’s Trevor Phillips: “Not true – we have already doubled the capacity so it’s not true that nothing has been done.

“Let’s not pretend this is a UK-specific problem, it’s not. In Europe, for example in Poland, the shortage is 123,000 drivers, so there isn’t just one simple new point to axe off, there isn’t one simple solution to this, but we have, despite having had shortages, managed to ensure that petrol was still getting to petrol stations, food getting to the shops.

“I’m afraid there has been some pretty irresponsible briefing out by one of the road haulage associations, which has helped to spark a crisis, and that’s very, very unhelpful, it’s counterproductive.

“I know that they’re desperate to have more European drivers undercutting British salaries, I know that’s been their ask all along.

“We actually think that it’s important that this country can train people, that people can do a proper day’s work, that they’re paid properly for that work, and that the long-term solution cannot be undercutting British salaries and having a constant vicious cycle of not being able to train people here and employ them on decent salaries.”

Mr Shapps added: “We need to ensure that people are reassured now that this rather manufactured situation has been created, because there’s enough petrol in the country.”

Pressed over who had caused it, he said: “There was a meeting which took place about 10 days ago, a private meeting in which one of the haulage associations decided to leak the details to media, and that has created, as we have seen, quite a large degree of concern as people naturally react to those things.

“The good news is there is plenty of fuel, the bad news is if everyone carries on buying it when they don’t need it then we will continue to have queues.

“Sooner or later everyone’s cars will be more or less filled up, there won’t be anywhere else to put fuel. It’s not like the toilet roll crisis at the beginning of the pandemic where people could stockpile it, therefore it will come to an end.

“We just appeal to people to be sensible, fill up when you normally would. We’ve got this big package in place today in order to help alleviate the pressure and we ask people to do their part.”

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Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

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Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

A man has been charged with murder after 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed and four people were injured near a London Tube station.

Two Metropolitan Police officers were among those hurt as they responded to reports of an attacker with a sword in Hainault, northeast London, on Tuesday.

The man charged has been named as Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a 36-year-old dual Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, east London.

He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

Monzo will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The families of all those affected by the incident have been informed.

Daniel Anjorin.
Pic: Met Police
Image:
Daniel Anjorin was killed as he walked to school. Pic: Met Police


Daniel Anjorin was a pupil at Bancroft’s private school in Woodford Green – also attended by Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar.

Staff and pupils at the school said they were in “profound shock and sorrow” at his death.

Daniel’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard working” – and that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.

“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they said. “Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”

Floral tribute at floral tributes in Hainault, north east London, where a 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday . Pic: PA
Image:
Floral tributes for Daniel have been placed in Hainault. Pic: PA

Monzo is accused of crashing a van into a fence just before 7am, and attacking two members of the public with a sword.

It is alleged he then killed the 14-year-old and seriously injured two police officers as they tried to stop him – one of whom nearly lost her hand.

The suspect was initially taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the van crash.

Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.”

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“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial,” she continued.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

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UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

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UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

The Met Office has issued warnings for rain and thunderstorms – with the alerts in place until Thursday morning.

The first warning began at 8pm and covers an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales, and lasts until 8am.

Heavy rain is expected, with a chance of thunderstorms, and the Met Office said it could bring difficult driving conditions and some flooding.

The second warning kicks in at 11pm and covers nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London. It’s in force until 6am on Thursday.

“Thunderstorms are likely at times later this evening and overnight, leading to travel disruption and some flooding,” said the Met Office.

There will be a risk of sudden flooding and power blackouts in both affected warning areas, added the forecaster.

There’s also a chance of hail and strong winds.

Flooding and lightning strikes could cause disruption on the roads, as well as delays and cancellations to rail and bus services.

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Around 2cm to 4cm of rain is expected overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.

“Much of this rain may fall over a two or three-hour period,” the Met Office said.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.

“A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well.”

He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.

Read more from Sky News:
Boy arrested for attempted murder
Radcliffe comments on JK Rowling fallout

Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.

Deakin said: “A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.

“That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales.”

He added: “Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow.”

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Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

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Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

The Scottish government has survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.

Scottish Labour pressed ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing earlier this week his intention to stand down as SNP leader and first minister.

It failed by 58 votes to 70.

The Scottish Greens voted against the motion, with party co-leader Patrick Harvie branding it “chaos for the sake of chaos”.

If it had passed, all ministers in the minority SNP government would have been forced to quit.

Opening the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service and wished him well, but said Scotland was “crying out for change” from the UK Conservative government and the SNP Scottish government.

He said the country needed “credible and effective leadership” to deal with “twin crises” in the economy and NHS.

More on Humza Yousaf

Mr Sarwar added: “I have no confidence in the SNP’s ability to deliver that and that is why I am bringing this motion to parliament today.”

The outgoing first minister defended his government’s record, adding that in the 13 months he has spent in charge he had not “heard a single positive idea” from Scottish Labour.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government, at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Wednesday May 1, 2024.
Image:
Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service, but said Scotland was ‘crying out for change’. Pic: PA

Mr Yousaf added: “What I have heard is the deafening sound of principle after principle being thrown out of Anas Sarwar’s window.

“U-turning on the two-child cap, U-turning on the devolution of employment law, U-turning on the devolution of drug law, U-turning on his support for Waspi women.”

Mr Yousaf said pro-UK parties, in their “cosy Westminster alliance”, would be “terrified” of a vote of no confidence.

He added: “As I have found out only too well in the last few days, politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make.

“As a government, I am exceptionally proud of our choices.”

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What comes next for the SNP?

The debate and vote has come following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement.

Within hours of the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens coming to an end last week, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross announced he would be bringing a motion of no confidence in the first minister.

Angry over the way the party was dumped from government, the Scottish Greens announced its MSPs would be backing the motion.

Scottish Labour then announced it was planning a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.

Mr Yousaf reached out to his political opponents in an effort to stem the uprising but conceded that he had “underestimated the level of hurt and upset” his actions had caused Scottish Green colleagues.

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Speaking to Sky News earlier on Wednesday, Mr Yousaf said: “I will certainly be regretting the way it ended.”

The Scottish Tories dropped their motion following Mr Yousaf’s resignation, but Scottish Labour pressed on as the party believes the decision on the next first minister should be put to the public.

Mr Yousaf intends to remain in post until his successor is announced.

Read more:
Who could replace Humza Yousaf?
What happens now following his resignation
SNP stands at a crossroads – what direction will party take?

Former deputy first minister John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes have emerged as potential frontrunners to throw their hat into the ring.

Kate Forbes speaks to the media at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
Kate Forbes speaking to journalists earlier this week. Pic: PA

Mr Sarwar pointed to reports that Ms Forbes could struggle to appoint ministers and described Mr Swinney as “the finance secretary that broke the public finances and the worst education secretary in the history of the Scottish parliament”.

Mr Ross, whose party threw its support behind the Scottish Labour motion, was forced to apologise to Mr Swinney after referring to him as “not so honest John” in the Holyrood chamber.

John Swinney at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
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John Swinney at Holyrood on Tuesday. Pic: PA

Mr Ross was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as “honest John”, but when presiding officer Alison Johnstone reminded him not to use nicknames, he said: “Oh sorry, I thought it was on accuracy because it would be not so honest John with some of the things we’ve heard recently.”

Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross being interviewed at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
Douglas Ross (pictured) was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as ‘honest John’. Pic: PA

Apologising, Mr Ross said: “I will apologise. I’m very sorry for any hurt caused.”

The Scottish Tory leader added: “Whether we have a bitter battle or a cosy coronation to elect the next leader of the SNP, they will continue campaigning for independence and the Scottish people will continue to be failed by them.”

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