P&O D-DAY

Heartless firm have until 5pm tomorrow to explain sackings as it’s revealed Tories knew about the plans

- GRAHAM HISCOTT

P&O Ferries is under threat of legal action if it fails to give satisfactory answers to 10 questions about the sacking of 800 seafarers by tomorrow’s 5 pm deadline.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the information given by P&O would “inform next steps”, but could lead to a “formal complaint to the relevant prosecuting authority”.

P&O Ferries has replaced the seafarers with cheaper agency staff, some on as little as £1.80 an hour, it has been claimed.

Its ferries are registered to Cyprus, the Bahamas and Holland, the RMT say. It could mean some foreign crews are not protected by UK employment law requiring a minimum wage of £8.91 an hour.

"The way they have treated the workers is awful, it is wrong" - RISHI SUNAK CHANCELLOR ON P&O