If the government was keen to avoid a panic around the possibility of a fuel shortage in the coming months then the laughable performance of ministers and spokespeople on the issues of ‘striking’ tanker drivers did little to instil a calm fortitude in the travelling British public.

Keep calm and carry on
“We are not having a meeting of COBRA (the government’s emergency planning committee),” says a spokesperson. “We are having a meeting of COBRA,” says the PM. “Stock up with jerry cans of fuel,” say a cabinet minister. “Don’t do that, it’s dangerous,” say another.

It’s not easy being consistent in your message giving in a big, multi-headed organisation like the government, but get it wrong and everyone look ridiculous, and the end result is the absolute reverse of what you wanted in the first place.

And let’s not even touch on the pasties…