The UK is set to use it EU presidency next July to back disgruntled port workers against the EU port services directive.

Workers fear it could spell the re-introduction of casual port work in European ports, many of which are either state or regional authority controlled.

Most UK ports are privately owned and port-users are likely to be behind the changes expected to come in under the directive as they would bring greater competition to port services opening them up to tenders adjudicated by independent bodies.

The UK’s main fruit ports are not likely to be affected adversely with Bristol and Sheerness already privately owned. Potentially Portsmouth owned by the city council could be affected but its services are operated by a private firm MMD under a long lease; and Dover, although a trust port, already has its services operated by a third party - George Hammond plc.