Might there be an additional, hidden, reason why the government is keen to whip up a sense of crisis about the tanker drivers' dispute (Jerry can gaffe blows up in Tory faces in argument over tanker drivers' strike, 29 March)?
Consider this scenario. A commitment in the recent budget which attracted little attention was that the UK would not go back into technical recession, which is defined as economic shrinkage in two successive quarters. In October-December there was 0.3% shrinkage, so there mustn't – at all costs – be shrinkage in January-March. These are now the last few days of March, and the government is urging road users to buy their fuel in advance, bringing forward all those April fuel purchases into the quarter which is about to end.
How close are we to falling back into technical recession? How desperate is the government getting about its recent promise, the failure of which would intensify debate about the economy?
Dave Bradney
Llanrhystud, Ceredigion