The government should establish an independent PumpWatch regulator – and finally end the gas price rip-off

Fuel’s mission

IF you’re heading home for Christmas, Government Secretary Mark Spencer has some festive advice: look for the cheapest petrol.

Well thanks for nothing. Harassed motorists already know this.

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The problem – as the Minister should know – is that so few petrol stations are passing on the cuts in wholesale fuel prices that it costs a fortune to drive around just to find one.

Around 34 million car journeys are expected today and tomorrow, thanks in part to the rail chaos created by hardline unions.

And motorists face their most expensive escape of all time.

Analysis by the RAC suggests that petrol should be 15p a liter cheaper than it is on average.

But as usual, pump prices, which have rocketed as wholesale prices rose, are falling like a feather.

Instead of explaining the apparent bleeding, Mr. Spencer and his government colleagues should bring in an independent PumpWatch regulator — and put an end to this rip-off.

Track’n’Ruin

IF it wasn’t bad enough for train passengers injured by the strike, their already expensive train fares are set to rise by almost six percent in March.

Yes, it could have been worse.

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The government has at least limited the increase to below the current inflation rate and delayed it by a few months.

But ministers insist the still-punitive surge is necessary for the railways’ financial stability, so it will go ahead despite the appalling service currently on offer.

And that’s after the £31billion has been thrown at the industry to keep it afloat during the Covid pandemic – and railway workers in jobs.

Could this latest punishment of travelers make unions reconsider their unrealistic wage demands?

And their refusal to change outdated practices holding the railroads back?

Or will they continue to behave as if the public is there to serve them – and not the other way around?

Precious time

THIS Christmas, remember six-year-old Georgia Kirchin, her parents and big sister.

Georgia lives “day in and day out” with a life-threatening medical condition.

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And time is running out to help her.

Mom Jodie says, “Georgia just wants a new heart so she can have a normal life and play with her friends.”

It puts other concerns into perspective.