P&O Ferries has faced a mountain of backlash online after it fired 800 of its workforce.
The act was branded a "despicable assault on workers' rights" by shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh, while maritime minister Robert Couts called the act 'insensitive'.
He said: "Reports of workers being given zero notice and escorted off their ships with immediate effect while being told cheaper alternatives would take up their roles, shows the insensitive nature by which P&O approached this issue."
