P&O Ferries rejects plea from Grant Shapps for U-turn on sackings

Ferry firm's boss says complying with minister's request would cause company's collapse

P&O Ferries has rejected the government's call to move this week's deadline for the 800 sacked workers to accept redundancy offers, saying most had already signed contracts and ministers were ignoring the situation's fundamental and factual realities".

In a bullish response to transport secretary Grant Shapps, the ferry operator's chief executive, Peter Hebblethwaite, said the demand was legally impossible and would close the firm down.