Using the Coronavirus to attack seafarer jobs in Hull is an utter disgrace.

Even before the Coronavirus outbreak P&O had brought hundreds of Filipino crew members 12,000 miles to Hull to work longer for less on the Pride of York and Pride of Hull.

During the crisis P&O Ferries’ Dubai-based parent company paid out £270m in dividends,whilst at the same time demanding £150m of the UK taxpayer money on top of the furlough (job retention) scheme funds.

Now they are trying to finish the job off with a scandalous attack on British Ratings and Hull’s maritime future.

We cannot be held to ransom as a country by this atrocious company.

The Government needs to step in to protect jobs in Hull and elsewhere.

I have written to the Maritime Minister Kelly Tolhurst to outline the issues and to call on the Government to make sure that any further support for P&O is conditional on job protection.