As an MP for a maritime constituency and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water Safety Education, I need to say something about lifeboats and their crews.
I think most of us who live and work in this coastal city, whether you are a supporter of my party or not, will agree that we owe a special debt of gratitude to selfless crews, volunteers and staff who dedicate themselves to rescuing people they have never met before.
Our local independent lifeboat charities, such as Southampton Lifeboat and Hamble Lifeboat, as well as our centuries old national lifeboat organisations, do this in all weather conditions, without judgement and without fear or favour.
As some of you know, I had the privilege of meeting some of these brave volunteers for myself earlier this month, when I joined volunteers, crew and supporters of Southampton Lifeboat to welcome the city’s first independent lifeboat into service.
And like many of you, I have been saddened by some of the vitriol aimed at these brave men and women over the last few days, including on my social media pages. Whatever your views on channel crossings and border security, people who save lives deserve to be thanked, not attacked.
And I think this is the case whether you think the government is doing a good, bad or indifferent job on tackling channel crossings.
Our lifeboat crews and volunteers represent the very best of our city and our country, and I have no truck with those who hide behind a balaclava or keyboard to hurl abuse at lifeboat charities and volunteers; volunteers who, in an emergency, would rescue the very same critics without hesitation.
They have my support and I hope you can support them as well.