![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iStock-2203299736.jpg\"\/)
Play Brightcove video<\/p>\nPlay Brightcove video<\/p>\n
The Petrol Retailers Association called the meeting with ministers constructive, as ITV News Economics Editor Joel Hills reports<\/p>\n
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told petrol retailers they had a \u201cshared obligation\u201d to keep prices down for motorists after the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said “inflammatory” comments from government ministers have caused retail staff to be abused by the public.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday the PRA, which represents large and small independent petrol retailers across the UK, had criticised comments by ministers around \u201cprice gouging\u201d and \u201cripping off\u201d motorists.<\/p>\n
In the Downing Street meeting on Friday, held with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and industry chiefs, Reeves said: \u201cWe have concerns around the high prices and we do have a shared obligation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miliband told them: \u201cWe have said so clearly that we won\u2019t tolerate unfair practices either here or anywhere else in the industry. <\/p>\n
“It is our obligation as the government to ensure the consumers are treated fairly in this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter<\/a> for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. <\/p>\n The meeting was held in response to rising concern around the impact of the Middle East crisis on household finances.<\/p>\n Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, described the meeting as “constructive” but added that no apology was given for the \u201cinflammatory language\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cThe meeting went very well. We engaged in constructive discussion with the government on this and we are working collaboratively with them,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n There were doubts as to whether the PRA would attend the meeting after it announced it had withdrawn because of ministers’ comments.<\/p>\n The group deleted several of posts on X, which had included the association saying it would not be attending the meeting, and then attended the meeting as planned.<\/p>\n Mr Balmer said earlier on Friday: \u201cRecently I have heard of incidents from some of our members of retail staff being abused by members of the public, who may have been provoked by the incorrect and inflammatory language emanating from some commentators for example use of the terms \u2018rip offs\u2019 and \u2018profiteering\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cOur members are working hard in difficult circumstances making sure that motorists and businesses are getting the fuel they need, at prices that are very competitive, on razor thin or in some cases negative margins which means they are losing money. Our job is to serve the public keeping motorists and businesses on the road\u201d. <\/p>\n “There is clearly still a lot of work to do to help politicians and commentators to understand how the fuel market works and our door is always open for constructive dialogue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X on Friday afternoon: “If fuel companies try to rip off customers, my government will step in.”<\/p>\n “Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband are bringing the bosses of the fuel companies in today, to make sure that customers aren\u2019t losing out because of the conflict in the Middle East.”<\/p>\n