Officials at the Department for Transport knew about the plans to sack around 800 staff at P&O a day before workers were told, it has emerged.
The ferry firm announced, via video link, on Thursday that workers on ships across the UK, including at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway, would be replaced by cheaper agency staff.
News of the sackings came as a complete surprise to workers, however officials in the UK Government were told of the plans the night before.
