Petrol and energy suppliers came under fire from ministers yesterday in an attempt to shame them into cutting pump prices and household bills.

Emboldened by international praise for tackling the banking crisis, Gordon Brown accused petrol retailers of charging too much and told them to follow the lead of Asda and Morrisons in bringing prices below £1 a litre.

Oil prices have fallen as low as $68 a barrel but petrol prices have failed to come down accordingly. Garages in some parts of the country are still charging customers up to £1.20 a litre.

Ministers also called on gas and electricity companies to reduce bills. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, warned them that the Government was ready to legislate to introduce fairer pricing for those on prepayment meters if suppliers did not act.

The Prime Minister, speaking at the European Union summit in Brussels, told the Opec oil-producing cartel not to cut production after reports that it was holding an emergency meeting next week to consider just that.

A Downing Street spokesman said that Mr Brown “has made clear that all institutions, including Opec, should act in the interests of global economic growth and stability at this challenging time for the world economy . . . Artificially increasing the oil price by reducing production will add to the difficulties faced by businesses and families across the world.”

The Prime Minister said that there was too much variation across Britain on petrol prices. “In some areas, it is as high as £1.20 per litre. That must change. I think the public know that when oil prices go up it is reflected very closely in the pump price. They want to know when it comes down, it will be reflected equally.”

He dismissed suggestions he might call a general election to take advantage of the perception that he was handling the financial crisis well. “I am getting on with the job and trying to get us through these difficult times. It has got my undivided attention.”

Mike O’Brien, the Energy Minister, said oil price falls should feed through into energy prices, but there was a lag of about six months because power companies bought supplies ahead.

Gordon’s to do list:

By the end of the year

— Overhaul system that forces banks to value toxic debt at its present firesale value, which may underestimate its true worth

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