Since nothing guarantees the panic buying of petrol like the fear that other idiots might soon start panic buying petrol, he may not be thanked in Whitehall for mentioning something that hopefully will never come to pass. But Butler was only stating the obvious: if this crisis goes on long enough to create a physical shortage of oil, then critical users like the emergency services would have to be prioritised somehow, and other countries are already being forced into drastic steps. Pakistan has closed schools and put government offices on a four-day week, Vietnam is urging people to work from home, and Bangladesh has stationed soldiers at fuel depots after bringing in rationing for motorcyclists.