Latest news with #Rupert Lowe
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Saints chairman mistakes charity rowers for 'illegal migrants'
The former chairman of Southampton Football Club reported rowers raising money for charity to the coastguard after believing they could were "illegal migrants." Rupert Lowe, who has been the MP for Great Yarmouth since 2024, and served as Saints chairman across two spells between 1996 and 2009, took to X on Thursday, August 7, to say he'd alerted authorities to a dinghy in the water. In a statement on X, the former Saints chairman said: "Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, right now. "Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. "If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported. "Enough is enough. Britain needs mass deportations, now." Following the post it transpired Lowe had pictured a rowing crew, which included a former Royal Marine, who were attempting to row from Land's End to John o'Groats to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND). The crew said they'd been contacted by the coastguard and asked if they could see a dinghy nearby. The four-person crew included Mike Bates, a Royal Navy veteran and British record holder for rowing solo across the Atlantic. Commenting on Lowe's social media post, he said: "We found it hilarious. "I've not been mistaken for a migrants 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." Lowe later took to social media to say he would donate £1,000 charity following his error, before embarking on his "usual daily patrol of the Great Yarmouth coast." Lowe was elected as a Reform MP in July 2024, before he had the whip removed in March of this year following bullying accusations. He now runs as an Independent MP. Prior to a career in politics, Lowe was the Chairman of Southampton Football Club from 1996 until 2006, before returning to the role in 2008, before departing in 2009 after the club entered administration.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
UK MP pledges donation to charity rowers he mistook for ‘illegal migrants'
UK Independent MP Rupert Lowe said he will make a donation to a charity rowing crew he wrongly suggested could be 'illegal migrants'. Mr Lowe, who was elected as a Reform UK MP but now sits as an Independent in Great Yarmouth, had posted a picture on social media on Thursday night showing a boat near some wind turbines off the Norfolk coast. Advertisement The Coastguard contacted the crew to confirm their identity and Mr Lowe has since promised to donate £1,000 to their charity. Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported. Enough is enough. Britain needs mass deportations. NOW. — Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 7, 2025 The MP posted on social media on Friday morning: 'Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. 'As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND. 'Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! Advertisement '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 migrants!' From left, Liz Wardley, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Matthew Parker, before they left Cornwall for Scotland on their charity voyage (Mike Newman/ROW4MND) Mr Lowe had originally posted on social media on Thursday night: 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. 'Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported.' Advertisement But the vessel pictured was in fact an ocean rowing boat crewed by ROW4MND, a team of four who are attempting to row from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND). The crew – Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley – said they had been contacted by the Coastguard and asked if they could see a dinghy nearby. Mr Bates, a former Royal Marine and British record holder for rowing across the Atlantic solo, told the PA news agency it soon became clear the Coastguard was asking about his own boat. 'I looked to my right and there was maybe a dozen individuals stood on the shoreline staring at us,' he said. Advertisement Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity - raising money for MND. Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! We received a huge number of urgent complaints from… — Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 8, 2025 After satisfying the Coastguard that their boat was not carrying migrants, they continued, but several hours later were contacted again by the Coastguard because the police had 'asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were'. Eventually, a friend forwarded Mr Lowe's post, which Mr Bates said provided 'a moment of light relief'. He said: 'We found it hilarious. I've not 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.' Advertisement The quartet set off from Land's End on July 25 (ROW4MND/PA) He added: 'But it was almost like a vigilante-style, people following us down the beach. 'They hadn't twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land.' The quartet set off from Land's End on July 25 and initially headed north into the Irish Sea before bad weather forced them to stop at Milford Haven in Wales. They then decided to return to Land's End and start again, this time heading in the other direction, which Mr Bates said had been 'about us showing resolve and resilience and hope'. The journey is the first of four challenges over four years, with the group aiming to row from John O'Groats to Land's End next year, from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028, with a target of raising £57 million for MND research. So far, they have raised £107,515 for the charity. Mr Bates said: 'We're rowing for hope, we're rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we'll raise £57 million – we certainly will if MPs keep talking about us. Maybe Rupert will give us a donation.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-Reform MP Tried To Sound Alarm Over A Migrant Dinghy – But Got The Wrong End Of The Stick Entirely
Former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe may have been feeling a little embarrassed last night after he admitted he had mistaken a charity rowing crew for 'illegal migrants'. In a furious post on X the MP for Great Yarmouth wrote: 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. 'If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported. Enough is enough. Britain needs mass deportations. NOW.' He attached a fuzzy photo showing a small boat in the distance near wind turbines off the Norfolk coast, and soon more than 770,000 views and 22,000 likes. But, 10 hours later, Lowe hastily backtracked, confirming on social media that it was actually a rowing boat trying to raise money for MND (Motor Neurone Disease). He wrote: 'Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. 'As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND. Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! '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 migrants!' Note he avoided apologising, even after the rowers – a team of four known as ROW4MND – were repeatedly approached by authorities. The group are trying to travel from Land's End to John O'Groats and were contacted by the Coastguard twice over fears they were harbouring migrants. A spokesperson for ROW4MND said the crew faced 'big waves, high winds, route changes and Storm Floris' over the last fortnight 'but being shopped as illegal immigrants by a sitting Member of Parliament really takes the biscuit.' 'ROW4MND is a project that will raise £57m to fight this awful illness over the next four years,' they continued. 'The crew's mission is to raise awareness of the disease, which will affect one in every 300 people over a lifetime, as well as raising funds to find a cure. 'It is said that all publicity is good publicity, but in this instance, the crew would like to be allowed to get on with their epic challenge, rather than having to respond to posts on Instagram. 'That said, the crew would like to personally thank Rupert Lowe MP for increasing the profile of the ROW4MND project immeasurably.' Naturally, the internet was utterly delighted by Lowe's mistake... Rupert Lowe spots two more potential illegal migrants. — Inevitable Gassy (@OldGassy1984) August 8, 2025 Rupert Lowe calls for deportation of charity rowers. What a paranoid dickhead. — Parody Keir Starmer (@Parody_PM) August 8, 2025 Rupert Lowe when he sees a boat in his seaside constituency — ⁴⁴ ³¹ ⁶³ palou stan 🚂 (@oconagenda) August 8, 2025 Related... Starmer's Migrant Returns Deal With France Is Already Being Picked Apart Minister Accuses Top Tory Of Hypocrisy Over Migrant Deal Criticism In Scathing Takedown Trump Cloaks Incredibly Racist Claim About Migrant Farm Workers As Praise
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Rupert Lowe gives charity £1,000 after taking its rowers for ‘illegal immigrants'
The independent MP Rupert Lowe has agreed to donate £1,000 to a charity after mistaking its rowing crew, including a former Royal Marine, for 'illegal migrants'. Lowe, who was elected as a Reform MP but now sits as an independent for Great Yarmouth, said he had shopped the crew to the authorities and vowed to do everything he could to have them deported if they turned out to be what he suspected. Instead, he was accused of being part of a vigilante effort after it turned out they were the four-person crew of an ocean rowing boat who were off Great Yarmouth as they attempted to row from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise funding and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND). Lowe, who has claimed he was ousted from Reform in March because the party's leader, Nigel Farage, feared he was becoming too influential, posted a picture on social media on Thursday evening showing the boat near wind turbines off the Norfolk coast. 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported,' he wrote. He also demanded mass deportations. The crew – Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley, known collectively as Row4MND – said they had been contacted by the coastguard and asked if they could see a dinghy nearby. Bates, a Royal Navy veteran and British record holder for rowing solo across the Atlantic, said it soon became clear the coastguard was asking about his own boat. 'I looked to my right and there was maybe a dozen individuals stood on the shoreline staring at us.' After satisfying the coastguard they were who they said they were, they continued. Several hours later, however, the coastguard contacted them again because the police had 'asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were'. A friend eventually forwarded Lowe's post to the crew, which Bates said had provided a moment of light relief. 'We found it hilarious,' he said. 'I've not 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. 'But it was almost like a vigilante-style, people following us down the beach. They hadn't twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Lowe later posted on social media: 'Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND. Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! '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 migrants!' The crew set off from Land's End heading for the Irish Sea, but bad weather forced them to turn back, so they headed in the opposite direction instead. They intend to row the return journey next year, from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028, with a target of raising £57m.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
British MP admits mistaking charity rowing crew for ‘illegal migrants'
A British MP has admitted mistaking a charity rowing crew for 'illegal migrants '. Rupert Lowe, who was elected as a Reform UK MP but now sits as an Independent in Great Yarmouth, had posted a picture on social media on Thursday night showing a boat near some wind turbines off the Norfolk coast. The local coastguard contacted the crew to confirm their identity and Mr Lowe has since promised to donate £1,000 (€1,150) to their charity after admitting his mistake. The MP posted on social media on Friday morning: 'Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. READ MORE 'As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND. 'Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! '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 migrants!' Mr Lowe had originally posted on social media on Thursday night: 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. 'Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported.' But the vessel pictured was in fact an ocean rowing boat crewed by ROW4MND, a team of four who are attempting to row from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND). The crew – Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley – said they had been contacted by the coastguard and asked if they could see a dinghy nearby. Mr Bates, a former Royal Marine and British record holder for rowing across the Atlantic solo, told the PA news agency it soon became clear the coastguard was asking about his own boat. 'I looked to my right and there was maybe a dozen individuals stood on the shoreline staring at us,' he said. After satisfying the coastguard that their boat was not carrying migrants, they continued, but several hours later were contacted again by the coastguard because the police had 'asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were'. Eventually, a friend forwarded Mr Lowe's post, which Mr Bates said provided 'a moment of light relief'. He said: 'We found it hilarious. I've not 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.' He added: 'But it was almost like a vigilante-style, people following us down the beach. 'They hadn't twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land.' The quartet set off from Land's End on July 25th and initially headed north into the Irish Sea before bad weather forced them to stop at Milford Haven in Wales. They then decided to return to Land's End and start again, this time heading in the other direction, which Mr Bates said had been 'about us showing resolve and resilience and hope'. The journey is the first of four challenges over four years, with the group aiming to row from John O'Groats to Land's End next year, from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028, with a target of raising £57 million for MND research. So far, they have raised £107,515 for the charity. Mr Bates said: 'We're rowing for hope, we're rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we'll raise £57 million – we certainly will if MPs keep talking about us. Maybe Rupert will give us a donation.' – PA
