A former Reform UK MP has admitted mistaking a charity rowing crew for ‘unlawful migrants’ however stopped in need of an apology.
Rupert Lowe, an Impartial in Nice Yarmouth, Norfolk, posted on X final evening {a photograph} of a ship off the coast of his coastal constituency.
He wrote: ‘Dinghies coming into Nice Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I’m urgently chasing.
‘If these are unlawful migrants, I might be utilizing each instrument at my disposal to make sure these people are deported.’
Besides the authorities had nothing to chase – it wasn’t ‘unlawful migrants’, as Decrease suspected, however rowers elevating cash for a motor neurone illness charity.
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ROW4MND – consisting of Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley – are rowing from Land’s Finish to John O’Groats.
The Coastguard contacted them and requested if they might see a dinghy close by, solely to understand the official was asking about their boat.
Bates, a former Royal Marine and British report holder for rowing throughout the Atlantic solo, seemed on the shore solely to see a dozen individuals gazing them.
Marine Site visitors, a monitoring web site, signifies that the boat was drifting by Nice Yarmouth simply after 8pm.
The crew have been contacted once more a number of hours later as a result of police had ‘requested if they might ship a lifeboat out to examine who we have been’.
After a buddy forwarded Mike the politician’s social media submit, every part clicked.
Mike mentioned: ‘We discovered it hilarious. I’ve not been mistaken for a migrant earlier than.
What’s motor neurone illness?
Additionally referred to as MND, motor neurone illness is a uncommon degenerative situation affecting the mind and nerves.
It assaults cells and nerves within the mind and spinal twine, resulting in muscle weak spot and dramatically lowering life expectancy.
The illness kills a 3rd of individuals inside a yr and greater than half inside two years of prognosis, in keeping with the Motor Neurone Illness Affiliation.
There is no such thing as a recognized remedy.
‘The most effective remark was the one asking the place the Royal Navy have been whenever you want them. I’m a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy have been on the boat.’
He added: ‘But it surely was nearly like a vigilante-style, individuals following us down the seashore.
‘They hadn’t twigged that we have been parallel to the shore for hours and never making an attempt to land.’
Lowe realised he made the gaffe this morning, posting on X: ‘Excellent news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness.
‘As a properly accomplished to the crew, I’ll donate £1,000 to their charity – elevating cash for MND. Preserve going, and be careful for any actual unlawful migrants!’
The MP mentioned his workplace acquired a ‘large quantity’ of complaints about his mistake.
Excellent news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness.As a properly accomplished to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – elevating cash for MND.Preserve going, and be careful for any actual unlawful migrants!We acquired an enormous variety of pressing complaints from…
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 8, 2025
‘I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It’s a nationwide disaster,’ he added.
ROW4MND have raised £107,515 thus far, with the group now simply off the coast of Cromer, in keeping with their web site.
They plan to row their return journey subsequent yr, from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028, to boost £57million.
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