10-08-2025
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.
