Residents claim RNLI donation plea would be used to rescue migrants
Residents have refused to help their local branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's fundraiser over concerns the money will go towards rescuing migrants.Chairman John Pendrill put forward a request to raise £200 at a recent meeting involving the Christchurch Residents' Association in Dorset.But the request was met with a 'very hostile' response by the 50-strong locals in attendance, who made their feelings clear about the charity's role in rescuing asylum seekers crossing the English Channel. One member shouted that the money would only fund a taxi service for migrants, according to an attendee, while another accused the RNLI of assisting illegal immigration. In the end the matter was put to a vote and around three quarters of the members rallied against the donation, with a few abstaining and none in favour.One member who was there said: 'There were people rumbling away, saying the money will be used to pay for a taxi service for immigrants. The request did stir up certain members.' Protestors in Dorset this week have demanded the Royal National Lifeboat Institute stop 'ferrying' asylum seekers across the English ChannelJohn Pendrill, who chaired the meeting, said: 'One of our members had made contact with us requesting we make a donation of £200 to the local RNLI.'As chairman I put it before the membership and it brought about a very strong response which was negative.'Our members were hostile, very hostile, to any sort of financial support to the RNLI. People expressed some rather strong views.'All of the responses were from people who did not like the RNLI assisting illegal immigrants getting into the country.'They felt the role of the RNLI is to help save people who are in trouble at sea not to help people who are trying to get here illegally and putting themselves in danger by doing so.'At the end of it there was a show of hands. There were about 50 people there and about three quarters were against, a few people abstained and I don't recall anybody voting in favour.'Over the weekend, a group of anti-migrant protesters gathered in Poole, Dorset, demanding the RNLI stop acting as a 'taxi service' for asylum seekers. They argued it should not rest on RNLI volunteers to 'ferry' migrants in small boats across the English Channel.But they were outnumbered by a 100-strong group of left-wing protestors from Stand Up to Racism. Police had to separate the two groups after Stand Up to Racism accused their counterparts of wishing to see women and children drown in the Channel. One anti-immigration attendee, who travelled from London for the event, said: 'I think the RNLI are great and do a fabulous job.'The issue here is what they are doing is bringing economic migrants over from France and a safe Europe so they can enjoy all the benefits of being here.'The RNLI is going out of its way to facilitate them by going to collect them from French waters. They have got it wrong by being a taxi service for illegal immigrants.' Last year, the RNLI shared dramatic footage of a crew rescuing 19 migrants from a capsized boat in the Channel as it hit back at claims it was like a 'taxi service' for illegal migrants. Footage showed a group of screaming men thrashing around in the sea as RNLI volunteers throw mini life jackets - known as horseshoes - in their direction. The migrants are then seen clambering up the side of the boat before being hauled aboard.One crew member, Dan Sinclair, said in the video: 'These people genuinely need our help. They are in distress. They have been in this situation for potentially hours on end and have become frozen - almost paralysed in position.'The RNLI released the footage - filmed in August 2023 - as it defended its 'compassionate' small boat rescues.Lifeboat crew members - who are overwhelmingly volunteers - said they would continue to attend any incident the Coastguard sends them to and will go to the aid of anyone in trouble at sea.
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RNLI donation plea sparks fury as residents claim £200 fundraiser would be used to rescue small boat migrants
