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An MP has conceded that he mistakenly identified a charity rowing team as “illegal migrants.”
Rupert Lowe, an independent MP, shared a photo on X on Thursday, depicting a boat near wind turbines off the coast of Norfolk, and commented: “Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW.”
Following contact from HM Coastguard to verify the crew’s identities, it was confirmed that the boat contained a team of charity rowers undertaking a journey from Land’s End, Cornwall, to John O’Groats, Caithness.
In a subsequent post, Mr. Lowe stated: “As a gesture to the crew, I will donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND.”
Lowe’s initial post about the boat was published at approximately 20:25 BST, indicating that he had alerted the authorities.
He further added that, should the individuals on board be identified as illegal migrants, he would “use every tool” at his disposal to ensure their deportation.
However, by 06:38 on Friday, he clarified that the “unknown vessel” was a false alarm.
He explained: “We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents – I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It is a national crisis.”
“No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal immigrants!”
Lowe has been a vocal advocate for stricter measures to combat illegal migration, including the implementation of mass deportations.
He was elected as a Reform UK MP last year but was expelled from the party in March amid allegations of making threats towards its chairman, Zia Yusuf.
Lowe has denied these allegations, and the Crown Prosecution Service has stated that he will not face criminal charges.
The four-member crew, including Mike Bates, a British record-holder for solo rowing across the Atlantic, described the post as “hilarious.”
Mr. Bates recounted: “I looked to my right, and there were perhaps a dozen people standing on the shoreline, staring at us.”
“I’ve never been mistaken for a migrant before.”
“The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I’m a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat.”
Mr. Bates characterized the public reaction as “almost vigilante-style,” noting how people followed them down the beach.
Another crew member, Matthew Parker, explained that they had been seeking shelter and waiting for the tide to turn when they noticed a drone overhead and people gathering on the shoreline.
“You’ve got these people on the shoreline flashing torches at us,” he said.
“We’ve got the coastguard asking us questions, a police car arrives on the beach with its lights on – how has this managed to get escalated this way?”
“I just thought it was ridiculous.”
The team of four embarked from Land’s End on July 25th and headed north into the Irish Sea before adverse weather conditions forced them to halt at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.
The team reversed course and returned to Land’s End before commencing their challenge again in the opposite direction.
To date, they have raised over £100,000 for charity and aspire to raise even more.
Mr. Bates stated: “We’re rowing for hope, we’re rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we’ll raise £57m – we certainly will if MPs keep talking about us.”
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