UK petrol retailers claim ‘inflammatory language’ of ministers led to staff abuse

<p>Trade body attends meeting with Rachel Reeves, hours after saying it was pulling out over suggestions of price gouging</p><p>• <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/12/cma-uk-fuel-retailers-on-notice-profiteering-iran-war">Watchdog puts UK fuel retailers ‘on notice’ over profiteering from Iran war</a></p><p>The trade body for the UK’s petrol station industry has got into a row with the government after claiming the “inflammatory language” used by ministers to describe rising pump prices may have incited abuse against forecourt staff.</p><p>The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said ministers had for several days suggested that forecourts might be “price gouging” and “ripping off” motorists as global oil markets have surged in response to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-israel-war-on-iran">the war in Iran</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/mar/13/uk-petrol-retailers-staff-abused-ministers-price-gouging-accusations">Continue reading...</a>