As an MP for a maritime constituency, 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 the centuries old RNLI, do this in all weather conditions, without judgement and without fear or favour.
Like most of you, I was appalled by comments made by the Leader of Reform UK Hampshire, Cllr George Madgwick, in which he told followers to “lobby against the RNLI” and “withdraw support and funding”.
In response, I’ve been really clear: people who choose to pick a fight with brave volunteer lifeboat crews are on the wrong side of public opinion and basic decency.
As I told BBC Radio 4 on Saturday (listen here), I find it incomprehensible that a senior politician who represents a maritime city could speak in this way, especially following the closure of a local RNLI lifeboat station. And this isn’t a party political point, because I’d be willing to bet that a majority of people – yes, even most people who are considering supporting Reform UK or are otherwise unhappy with this government’s action on channel crossings despite the fall in numbers – will feel the same.
Here are the facts: over 94 per cent of people crossing by channels in small boats are aided by agencies other than the RNLI, such as the border force; RNLI assistance to small boats in the channel represents around 1 per cent of their launches.
And as the RNLI has explained many times, when its crews respond to call outs to small boats in the Channel, they are responding to people in danger onboard unseaworthy, dangerously overcrowded boats. Many will not be wearing buoyancy aids or lifejackets, and many of the casualties are also unable to swim. Add to that the location – one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes – and you have a situation that can become very dangerous, very fast.
Reform UK politicians should drop the disgraceful rhetoric. Most of us who live and work along this coast, whether you are a supporter of my party or not, will feel 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.
The crews and volunteers represent the very best of our region and our country, and they deserved to be thanked and supported – without equivocation and regardless of our politics.