Nigel Farage has doubled down on much-criticised comments claiming that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been operating as a taxi service for illegal immigrants.
The RNLI’s work rescuing migrants began five years ago, but has greatly increased over the past two years across nine sites stretching between Margate in Kent and Eastbourne in east Sussex.
Farage, former leader of UKIP, had said: “This is the Ramsgate lifeboat today, rammed full. Sadly the wonderful RNLI in Kent has become a taxi service for illegal immigration, to the dismay of all involved. What a state of affairs.”
Speaking on his new GB News show, the ex-UKIP chief said the Royal Navy should be stepping in to return migrant boats to French ports, reiterating his belief that it is not the charity’s responsibility to save their lives.
Brexiteer and controversialist Darren Grimes also waded into the debate, tweeting: “I find lifeboat charity @RNLI’s rescue missions in the Channel to be deeply irresponsible.
“If you’re sure that getting into an unseaworthy vessel will see you carried across the Channel by trained professionals, why wouldn’t you? Why wouldn’t you try to hitch a ride to Britain?”
RNLI boss Mark Dowie said he felt compelled to respond after volunteers reported being heckled for rescuing migrants and bringing them safely to British shores.
The charoty also defended helping Border Force tackle the migrant crisis, saying it classed as “humanitarian work of the highest order”.
On 23 July, RNLI’s Tower Lifeboat account tweeted: “We are shocked and saddened to report some of our volunteer crew were verbally assaulted due to their role when reporting for duty tonight. This behaviour will not be tolerated. Thank you @metpoliceuk for your support.”
Dowie said: “Imagine being out of sight of land, running out of fuel, coming across incredibly busy shipping lanes when you’re frightened and you don’t know which direction you’re going in. That is by anyone’s standards distress. Our role in this is incredible important: simply to respond to a need to save lives.”
They RNLI also tweeted from their main account: “We’re proud of the lifesaving work our volunteers do in the Channel – we make no apology for it. Those we rescue are vulnerable people in danger & distress. Each of them is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter – every life is precious. This is why we launch:”
Not everyone shares such views and there was an outpouring of support for the RNLI and a Twitter storm of comments putting Farage and Grime back in their respective boxes – all while donations flooded into the RNLI.
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