'Pathetic, unpatriotic and un-British' - Eastbourne MP condemns ‘abuse’ of RNLI volunteers during BBC TV appearance
Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde described the ‘abuse’ of volunteer lifeboat crews as ‘pathetic, unpatriotic and un-British’ while appearing on BBC One programme Question Time.
The Chief Executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes released a statement earlier this month to address “deliberate misinformation” about the charity’s role following anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth.
Mr Sparkes condemned the “wholly unacceptable” treatment of the charity’s volunteers and staff and reiterated the RNLI is an “apolitical organisation”.
RNLI lifeboats from Eastbourne and Hastings were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a small boat in the English Channel on Tuesday (September 22).
On Wednesday (September 23), Mr Babarinde released a joint statement with Hastings MP Helena Dollimore speaking out against “disgusting intimidation and online abuse” that volunteers have faced.
During the latest episode of Question Time, aired on Thursday (September 24), an audience member asked: “Should we be more worried about the protestors than the people arriving on small boats?”
On the topic, Mr Babarinde said: “It’s one thing to protest, but it’s another thing to intimidate and abuse our volunteer lifeboat crews. These are people who put their lives on the line for us, and anyone who should get in their way is pathetic, unpatriotic and un-British.
“We’re a country that prides ourselves in bringing people together. We are a country that thought we banished hate and division some time ago, and these folks only seek to threaten that.
“So I would say to those in the audience and anyone watching – love our lifeboats, donate to the RNLI, stand up to this division by helping to support their work going forward.”
The show, hosted by Fiona Bruce, featured a panel including Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (Labour), Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately (Conservative) and journalists Andrew Neil and Ash Sarkar.