WESTMINSTER CHA0S SH0CKER: Rachel Reeves has been left humiliated by a dramatic U-turn over a crunch meeting with Britain’s petrol chiefs — sparking claims the government has been thrown into total disarray

The association had said it wanted talks to be private “to allow a conversation to explain how the fuel market works”.

Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, said: “Recently 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 ‘rip offs’ and ‘profiteering’.

“Our 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.

“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.”

But the Government subsequently told the PRA that media would attend the top of the meeting but that the talks themselves would be private.

At the meeting at 11 Downing Street, Ms Reeves told petrol bosses they had a “shared obligation” to keep prices down for motorists.

She thanked them for their co-operation, but told them she wanted an “open and frank conversation” with them.

She said: “We have concerns around the high prices and we do have a shared obligation.”