The first round went to the fuel protesters. Calling off September's blockades outside oil refineries around Britain before public opinion turned against them was a tactically successful move.
But with nine days' to go to the expiry of their 60-day ultimatum for a cut in fuel duty, the British government will not be caught off guard this time and has dramatically raised the stakes.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, has gone on the offensive, warning the country that short-term unpopularity is a price his government is prepared to pay to prevent reductions in public spending and living standards to pay for a cut in fuel duty.
Last week the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, caused annoyance among the fuel protesters when he urged essential users and industry to stock up on fuel supplies. In addition 1,000 soldiers have been trained to deliver fuel if an emergency situation arises, and some journalists have suggested the government has tried to blacken the name of a key figure among the fuel protesters.
It has all left an unpleasant taste in the mouth of the fuel protesters, who have said their only planned action next week is a go-slow convoy from the north-east of England to London, and they have accused the government of talking up a climate of anxiety.
As the November 13th deadline draws ever closer, panic buying of fuel is happening in small pockets around Britain.
At the Tesco Express petrol station in Essex Road in Islington, north London, at 10.30 a.m. yesterday, there is a queue of nine cars waiting to get to the pumps. "It's usually quiet here at this time," says Paul, one of the attendants. "It must be because of the fuel protesters. But most of these people will be back to fill up before the deadline anyway. It doesn't make sense."
Waiting in a long queue of traffic outside the petrol station, Andrea (24), from Edmonton in north London, has driven the 10 miles from her home to central London to find petrol for the weekend.
"I had to come out to get petrol, but this is the first one since Edmonton that I've found open," she says. "I don't think the government will let it get as bad as last time and I suppose I do support the protesters, but it's coming up to Christmas and I really need my car, so I hope it doesn't get worse."
Pulling alongside one of the eight pumps at the station, Mr David Copeland, a taxi-driver from Islington, is annoyed with the government for not cutting the duty on fuel, but he is also fed up with the fuel protesters. "They've said they won't picket the oil refineries, but last time I couldn't work because there was no fuel and I lost money. But they don't pay my bills," he said.
But to illustrate just how fickle the situation is at the moment, David says that although other drivers are stupid for joining the queue outside the station, he's stocking up on fuel as well. "I'm panic buying as well, yes, but last Tuesday I ran out and it was Saturday before I got petrol. So instead of 10 pounds, I'm putting in 30 quid."