Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called in forecourt operators in response to the Middle East crisis.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told petrol retailers they had a “shared obligation” to keep prices down for motorists.
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) had threatened to pull out of the Downing Street meeting with Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband after claiming the Government’s “inflammatory language” over rising fuel prices led to abuse against forecourt workers.
At the Downing Street meeting, Mr Miliband warned executives from the forecourt operators and firms including Shell that the Government would not tolerate “unfair practices” in the industry.
The Chancellor hosted industry chiefs in 11 Downing Street on Friday in response to rising concern about the impact of the Middle East crisis on household finances.
Ms Reeves thanked the petrol bosses 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.”
Mr Miliband told them: “We have said so clearly that we won’t tolerate unfair practices either here or anywhere else in the industry. It is out obligation as the Government to ensure the consumers are treated fairly in this crisis.”
Before the meeting, Gordon Balmer of the PRA raised concerns that recent language from the Government was driving abuse against fuel retail staff by members of the public “following several days in which ministers have suggested that forecourts may be ‘price gouging’ and ‘ripping off’ the motorist”.
The PRA later said it would take part in the meeting after assurances from the Treasury that it would be held largely in private, which the group said would “allow a conversation to explain how the fuel market works”.
Mr Balmer 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, the 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.”
He added: “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.”
Ms Reeves has asked the competition watchdog to “crack down” on “rip-off” fuel prices to guard against profiteering over the high oil prices due to the Iran war.
The Government has already promised to intervene if companies engage in “unfair” practices that would hit customers facing a rise in the price of home heating oil, which is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap.
However, the AA warned that motorists “will be stung” with inevitable rising costs because of a global hike in prices, and called on Ms Reeves to delay a planned increase in fuel duty.
The Chancellor has faced opposition pressure to abandon her decision to gradually phase out a 5p cut to the levy, starting with a 1p increase from September this year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has since said the Government will keep the situation “under review” in light of the Middle East conflict.
On Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority warned it was putting fuel retailers “on notice” of plans to step up monitoring of petrol and diesel prices in light of the Middle East uncertainty.
The RAC said earlier this week diesel prices had risen by nearly 9% since February 28, while petrol prices were on average 6% higher.
The Government has said drivers can compare prices at different petrol stations across the UK through its Fuel Finder service.
