To cries of “seize our ships”, hundreds of union members and supporters set off from Maritime House – the Dover office of the RMT union – to the docks.

They were protesting at the sudden mass redundancy of all crew working for P&O Ferries, and demanding that the government prevents the three vessels tied up at the port from leaving.

The Dubai-owned ferry line told 800 seafarers on Thursday that they were jobless with immediate effect – triggering outrage across the political spectrum.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, and the former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, headed the march.

“We want the government to bring the company in and insist on reinstatement for the workers,” said Mr McDonnell.

The Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington told The Independent: “If they don’t think they’ve got power to do that, bring forward emergency legislation to enable that to happen.

“But also if necessary stop these ships going out until we get a settlement, because this isn’t just about jobs and the future of our ports – it’s about the future security of our country as well.

“This is a critical issue. The government’s got to act. It can’t sit on the fence.”

The RMT leader criticised the transport minister, Robert Courts. Mr Lynch said the minister revealed to him that Department for Transport (DfT) had been told about P&O Ferries’ intentions on Wednesday night – but he declined to reveal the plans to the union.

“I would expect him to pick up the phone and tell the representatives of the workforce what’s happening so we can get straight on to the company,” Mr Lynch told The Independent.

“What they were doing instead was preparing a security force and the instant dismissal of our members.

“He never picked up the phone. He went to bed.”

The Independent has asked the DfT for its account of events.

The RMT general secretary declined to comment on a rumour that is spreading in Dover that the ferry firm intended all along to take back on the 800 sacked seafarers, and that the replacement crew are simply caretakers.

“We’ve heard that rumour but we can’t confirm it,” he said.

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