In the House of Commons, Labour will force an emergency vote to demand the government takes action to outlaw so-called fire and rehire of ferry crew after 800 plus P&O workers (incl. Irish personnel) were sacked on the spot.

The party said reports suggest the government was aware of the sackings before they were announced, as well as the plan to use "exploitative" practices to take on cheaper employees.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has claimed replacement crews are being paid less than minimum wage.

'A line in the sand'

Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, described the sackings as "a line in the sand" ahead of the vote in parliament on Monday.

Labour will call on the government to suspend contracts with P&O owners DP World until the matter is resolved and to remove it from its Transport Advisory Group.

Sky News has more on the ferry crewing dispute that has focused attention at Westminster.