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20 members of the Eastern European replacement crew who were drafted in following the sacking scandal were pictured being shown around the docked Pride of Hull in Yorkshire.
Workers refused to leave their ships after being told in a pre-recorded three-minute video they were being fired with immediate effect by Stephen Nee, the company's laughably titled 'employee relations' chief.
Mr Shapps said the company had only let a 'very small group' of officials know about the decision on Wednesday evening, meaning it was 'far too late' for the Government to intervene.
The company is a major freight carrier on the crucial Dover to Calais route - which handles a third of the goods trade between Britain and the EU.
P&O Ferries is facing calls to repay the millions of pounds in furlough cash and Government grants which were handed out during the pandemic to support staff whom have now been sacked.