A MP says she was bullied and abused by 'left-wing militants' as she joined protests in Dover against mass job cuts by ferry operator P&O.

Members of the RMT union and numerous other groups came together on Friday after 800 workers were suddenly made redundant over a Zoom call with no prior warning.

Natalie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, was invited along and has called for the decision to be reversed.

She wants to see the government hold P&O’s owners DP World to account as well as provide employment support for the workers.

But, while at the RMT headquarters in Snargate Street, Ms Elphicke was heckled by protesters, who chanted "Shame on you," and "you're on the bosses' side" to which she responded "I stand with the workers".

Others shouted: “You voted for fire and rehire.”

Natalie Elphicke was heckled as hundreds attended the rally in Dover

In October 2021, the Government blocked proposals introduced by a Labour MP to curb businesses’ abilities to lay staff off and take them back on different terms – a practice commonly referred to as ‘fire and rehire’.

Ms Elphicke seemed to join in with demonstrators’ chants as she walked with them to Dover Port

But in a press release today she said: “It was shameful that hard-left militants decided to surround, bully and abuse me.

"All the more so when I had been invited to join the march by the RMT leadership.

"I won’t be intimidated from serving our community by these odious militants who thrive on division.

"Nor will I be deflected from serving my community and my duty to represent the ferry workers."

The MP noted the "hard-left extremists" have also tried to bully Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury before adding: "Bullying and physical intimidation is wrong whoever it’s done to and we need to call it out.

“This does however underline that there are some who seek to sow division for division’s sake - we need to guard against these nasty militants who would take us back to the bad old days of the 1970s.

"We need to be clear that the issue here is bad business behaviour by P&O Ferries and DP World and we should be united in seeking to reverse the decision and reinstate the Dover workforce.”

There were chants of "seize the ships" as the group marched down the A20 towards the port.

Before the group left the RMT offices, speeches were given by Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, Darren Procter, national secretary, and Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

Traffic was held up and delays built after police imposed a rolling block around the march.

Drivers travelling on the opposite carriageway honked their horns in support, while people walking past applauded.

Ms Elphicke says she has also asked employment ministers to take immediate action, and is working with Dover District and Kent County Councils to provide support to affected workers.

She added: “Number 10 have roundly condemned the sackings, the Department for Business are considering action on breaches of the law and Transport Ministers are reviewing all Government dealings with DP World and P&O Ferries.

"I hope that DP World will take heed and reverse their disgraceful decision.

"What DP World has done is shameful. They have rightly been condemned across the board."

An urgent debate is underway in Parliament regarding the controversial 'fire and rehire' policy.

The RMT has been approached for comment following Ms Elphicke's comments.