Those who do not know the CAA fuel requirements should read them!
Yep CONDITIONS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT you can land at destination with just final reserve fuel remaining.
On a 757 that's around 1800 Kgs at max land weight.
& I agree a full radar circuit including a go-around can take up to 1200 kgs.
Seems to me that the chap was just doing his job according to the rules (Might not keep his job if he did'nt)
It is proberbly worth remembering that that these days of minimum seperation and max runway useage there is no longer any room for a F--=% up.
So I would guess the chap just wanted to ensure that he would NOT be tucked right up behind the one in front. I also bet his SOPAS say Mayday at min reserve which he had not yet reached.
ATC you may find the CAA fuel policy interesting reading & I am sure some other contries ones as well. One good thing about pprune it does help in passing on information and help difuse missunderstandings.
If any of you jet drivers have not done a visit to west drayton it is well worth the visit.