A petition organised by the Rev Dick Rogers and the Rev Michael Hinton opposing privatisation of the Port of Dover has been presented to Tranport Minister Paul Clark by Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser.

"Dick Rogers is the founder of the Common Good Party and he mostly promotes international aid issues," said Mr Prosser.

"But I am grateful to him for supporting Labour’s campaign opposing port privatisation and collecting nearly 2,000 signatures of local people voicing objection to the sale of the port.

"We presented the petition to the Minister and along with other petitions and letters of objection they will form part of the responses to the consultation process.

"In view of growing opposition to the Port of Dover’s privatisation plans from the unions and local residents, and taking account of the unprecedented attack of the ferry companies on Dover Harbour Board’s behaviour I raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Question Time last week and I am now following this up with a further meeting with Ministers at the Department of Transport."