Early September on England’s southern coast has become a flashpoint for a new kind of conflict: volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are being vilified by far‑right activists after helping migrants reach safety.
Protests turn hostile in Portsmouth and Dover
Hundreds of protesters wearing balaclavas gathered at Portsmouth’s Langstone Harbour on Sunday night after a small boat carrying roughly 120 people was rescued by RNLI crews. The demonstrators, identified as members of the Patriot Platform – a group led by Daniel Thomas, a former associate of anti‑Islam activist Tommy Robinson – attempted to block the lifeboats and later tried to stop buses from transporting the asylum seekers to a processing centre.
A similar scene unfolded in Dover on Saturday, where masked men in black shouted “stop the boats” as RNLI volunteers brought migrants ashore.
RNLI and government response
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes condemned the abuse, calling it “wholly unacceptable in a civilised society.” He reaffirmed the charity’s mission to save lives at sea, stating, “Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea. We will always answer the call, whoever needs our help.”
British Policing Minister Sarah Jones told reporters that the RNLI acted “under the direction” of the coastguard to meet the vessel and bring it safely into the Portsmouth area. She noted that more than 200 protesters arrived at the harbour intending to block three coaches scheduled to transport the arrivals for processing.
Abuse and misinformation
Following the rescues, RNLI staff reported a surge of online harassment, including posts on X that labeled volunteers “traitors” and accused them of “facilitating the invasion of Britain.” Rumors also spread that asylum seekers were being housed on RNLI premises – a claim the organization dismissed as “completely baseless and untrue.”
In response, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “No one who is putting themselves in harm’s way – in order to save lives – should be subject to any level of abuse, and we are working with the RNLI to ensure they are supported.”
Context of migration numbers
Despite the heated rhetoric, Home Office data show that the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has fallen to its lowest level since 2020. The RNLI’s involvement in Channel rescues represents a very small percentage of its overall work; most migrant rescues in the area are conducted by the UK Border Force.
The episode highlights the growing tension between humanitarian rescue efforts and a vocal segment of the far‑right that frames migrant arrivals as an “invasion.” While the protests have drawn media attention, the RNLI remains steadfast in its non‑political, life‑saving mission.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
