Forum Topic

Smash the gangs. Really?

What message does it send out to have a policy of building new council hpuses soecifically for the illegals arriving by Border patrol and RNLI ubers.We definitely need more public sector housing but surely those already on the waiting lists,veterans and the homeless, those living in over crowded conditions should take priority for new properties

Andy Pike ● 11d59 Comments

Well, Border Force moor in the Marinas like Ramsgate etc. Because they have walked round to me and asked how long we intended to stay there, I said we are with the Hurlingham club, been to France, but the weather turned, waiting for it calm about till we go out into North Foreland. So why are the RNLI involved. The French should be stopping them

Barbara Stevens ● 8d

Mr Ixer'It's a pity France and Germany haven't expedited law changes that would assist but I guess now we're not inthe EU it's understandable if it's not a priority.'They have no interest in stopping boat people from moving from outside their territories to the UK.I am sure their politicians quietly and their citizens publicly just think and say "Good riddance - let the stupid Brits take them in and pay for them".A change in attitude in Germany since Angela Merkel instigated her 'open-door migrant policy' and in France suffering from its own North African immigrant crime wave.

John Hawkes ● 8d

Mr IxerAs usual your selective web trawling does not give a true refelection of Farage's comments and attitude to the RNLI.''The RNLI is being used in ways that its donors don't give it money for. Yes, it's there to save lives...but it's not for our lifeboats to effectively become an arm of Border Force.'What anyone less prejudiced against Farage than you would read into this is that he feels the RNLI is being taken advantage of by the illegal immigrant boat people who well know the organisation has a  rightful obligation to help them when they get into trouble.That is why they set off, with encouragement I don't doubt, from a safe country like France in overloaded rubber dinghies to come here to be welcomed by the likes of you and get free housing and benefits. Ipso facto the RNLI does become unwittingly an arm of the Border Force.Still I am sure the RNLI is grateful that the likes of you have increased your donations to them in order to counter Farage and spite him and his supporters. 'Assume making an ASS of U again! :-)'"Oooh Missis you are a caution"Just as witty as Boycie though I don't really understand the joke.Good to see the Scottish press are supporting illegal immigration.With so many Scots coming south of the border to look for work and escape SNP wokism they need immigrants to pick up the low skilled jobs.And sorry to read your of your TfL wifi problems in your latest instalment of 'My exciting and interesting life and times'.Undoubtedly a pooterish classic in the making.And I hope Mayor Khan will feel suitably contrite when you report them and will fix them ASAP.Tell him that those of us that look forward to reading  your daily adventures will feel greatly let down and disappointed if he doesn't.Sorry you consider me priggish for calling you priggish....!Belligerent I will accept but priggish ?

John Hawkes ● 8d

Sue, the Border Force and HM Coastguard are government agencies and have nothing to do with fund raising for the RNLI which is a charity funded by donations. I don’t have information on current donations, but an independent fundraiser called the Flying Farage hit a target of £300,000 earlier this year, and they've now set an extended target of £500,000 so some people have been donating; it wouldn't be surprising if direct donations have slowed down after meeting the £300K target. (Although the RNLI's GDPR policy may have been a bigger cause of a drop in donations, see *1 below.)https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/fundraiser-to-buy-rnli-new-lifeboat-in-nigel-farages-name-hits-300k-target-400511/As I've noted several times the RNLI are called on by the Coastguard if there's an imminent danger to life (as confirmed by the RNLI's FAQs). I suspect the Coastguard do escort the inflatables into land so that the Border Force can pick up the passengers before they disperse; isn't that their job, to guard the coast? The RNLI are only following their obligation to save lives in line with international maritime rules when that's requested by the Coastguard; I can only see that perpetuating the disinformation about them will affect their charitable donations. Surely, no sensible person wants that?

Remember, the RNLI is a charity - it's registered in England and Wales, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the various crown dependencies of the British Isles - so provides assistance for all the British Islands, not just the UK. *1
The RNLI has used the GDPR opt in rule for their database to solicit donations which fas consequently shrunk. Because of this it will now use the Legitimate Interest GDPR Rule to regrow its  database: https://tfn.scot/news/rnli-drops-opt-in-policy-as-donations-fall

Michael Ixer ● 9d

@MICongrats again, this time for getting the EU into the mix.  I am sure that I recently read that donations to the RNLI had significantly reduced now because of public disapproval of its involvement in escorting the rubber boats.  Have a word with one of your mates ‘in the know’ and correct me if I am wrong.

Sue Hammond ● 9d

A list of FAQs from the RNLI concerning their rescues of small boat passengers in the Channel. I can't see anything that contradictions, in fact it confirms, what I was told by the Border Force representative at the International Security Expo:https://rnli.org/footer/faqs/our-work-in-the-channel-faqs#:~:text=The%20RNLI%20is%20one%20of,to%20enter%20the%20UK%20illegally?

Michael Ixer ● 9d

Sue. I'm just relaying what Mr Farage apparently said as reported in a range of news outlets from GB News to the Guardian. I'm also inclined to believe what I was told face-to-face by a member of the Border Force. Surely it's good if donations to the RNLI have increased if there's extra pressure on them from the criminal activities of the people smugglers? I don't think President Trump has any influence over cross channel refugees or people smugglers in Europe. It's a pity France and Germany haven't expedited law changes that would assist but I guess now we're not inthe EU it's understandable if it's not a priority. 

Michael Ixer ● 9d

@MI 14.14Congrats, you managed to criticise Farage again, pity you couldn’t somehow include Trump in your post and make it a double whammy.  I always thought that the RNLI exist to rescue people who are in danger in the UK coastal waters, so are all the dinghies that the RNLI escort ashore, about to capsize?  I haven’t read of any such dramas so it is not unreasonable to view them as a taxi service.  In my opinion.

Sue Hammond ● 9d

Ok. Understood.

Steven Rose ● 9d

Steven.  I did say in another post I may have been a bit harsh in my response but that was because it came across to me as propagating the disinformation of Mr Farage criticising the RNLI acting as a taxi service. It was only meant to be a suggestion but sometimes nuances get lost in posts - which, of course,  can work both ways.

Michael Ixer ● 9d

I think, Michael, that John may have called you priggish for your suggestion that Andy Pike should make a contribution to the RNLI to atone for his supposed slur  against the lifeboat crews. In the first place Andy was not criticising the RNLI but the migrants who abuse their good offices and in the second it is not your place to distribute penances like a priest in the confessional.

Steven Rose ● 9d

Oh dear, Mr Hawkes It appears my thinking was correct. Mr Farage was critical of the RNLI! I phrased it that way as I was drafting from memory off-line on the tube and couldn't check references at the time, and had to get somewhere quickly when I posted it at the end of the journey when the TfL wi fi spranginto life at the station. So you erroneously, assumed I was wrong without checking the facts. But there's plenty of reports of his criticism of the RNLI:Donations to RNLI rise 3,000% after Farage’s migrant criticism: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/29/rnli-donations-soar-in-response-to-farages-migrant-criticismQuote from GB News Facebook post: Nigel Farage: 'The RNLI is being used in ways that its donors don't give it money for. Yes, it's there to save lives...but it's not for our lifeboats to effectively become an arm of Border Force.'RNLI donations rocket by 2,500% after Nigel Farage criticises its Channel rescues, ITV News https://www.itv.com/news/2021-07-29/rnli-donations-rocket-by-2500-after-farage-criticises-its-channel-rescuesNigel Farage's utterly foul attack on RNLI brings out the best of British as donations surge – Scotsman comment https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/farages-foul-attack-on-rnli-brings-out-the-best-of-british-scotsman-comment-3328493RNLI crew makes no apologies for saving migrants' lives in English Channel - BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8dejyg4l37oThe BBC quotes from RNLI volunteers seems to have a slightly different tone to that of Mr Trip's friend but I guess views vary.Anyway, it seems Mr Farage's (as the Scotsman describes them) foul comments have worked to the the RNLI's advantage with the rise in donations. Perhaps he should criticise a few more charities?It's yet another incorrect assumption, Mr Hawkes. Assume making an ASS of U again! :-) Your fact checking is getting a bit sloppy?I do try and check my facts and also provide references in most cases, or, as with Mr Farage and the housing issue, caveat it. If I'm wrong I'll usually say so, if it's a fact rather than opinion. When I have time I'll respond to your othrr inaccurate, unfounded and unreasonable assumptions that I'm anti American or favour any religion. It was your attitude towards me that I considered priggish, particularly calling me priggish (I usually try and be courteous, although it's easy to get exasperated with some comments) and making assumptions about what I am or are think. I might be harsher when I feel misinformation is believing propagated. I don't believe I've ever said borders shouldn't be controlled, just disagreed about the mechanisms to control it, and the fact Brexit didn't give the UK control of its borders as some said it would.A Happy New Year!

Michael Ixer ● 9d

Hello Michael,Thank you for your post and am delighted you mentioned the international obligations to save lives.  Yes, there is the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, the Search and Rescue (SAR) Convention as well as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  The first SOLAS Convention came into effect after, and as a result of, the sinking of the Titanic.These conventions require flag and/or coastal States to cooperate regionally to ensure that, when a distress call is made, a rescue is coordinated.  Their obligations include that vessels at sea comply with humanitarian obligations to protect life, including those of migrants and refugees. In the UK, the body in charge of maritime safety is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) which coordinates all activities but its operative branch the HM Coastguard and the RNLI is often called to assist.All of these obligations are separate from political measures taken by governments of individual countries.

Ivonne Holliday ● 9d

Mr Ixer'I THINK it was Mr Farage who first raised this issue, and seemed to kick off a reaction against the RNLI, who I think we can agree were only doing their job, and doing it well; I THINK it also sparked donations for a pro RNLI fund called the 'Flying Farage'. I was perhaps being a bit harsh but just jumping on what in my opinion was misinformation as I didn't think it was helpful to propagate what might be perceived as negative publicity about the RNLI. No factual proof then, just imagined political prejudice.But also political naivety on your part for why would a politician like Farage take pokes at RNLI which I have no doubt his supporters hold rightly in high esteem ?He was just pointing out how the 'boat people' illegal  immigrants rely on and hence knowingly take advantage of their services when they get into trouble.If you are so 'in with' the Border Force and their 'toys' can you ask them or inform us yourself why they are so abysmally poor at keeping these people off our shores.BBC News - "Annual Channel migrant crossings highest since 2022"'A total of 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 - almost 5,000 more than the previous year.Home Office figures showed a 13% rise on the 36,566 total in 2024'.And I may be many things including being belligerent but I do not believe I can be considered a prig regarding the issues of illegal immigration and antisemitism as expressed by Muslims and their fellow travellers."PRIG - a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if they are superior to others:"too much overt goodness can be the sign of a prig""some of his contemporaries thought him a prig and hypocrite"I genuinely and by no means hypocritically believe my views attempting to counter the attacks Israel, literally and in the MSM and online (such as in this Forum) and the antisemitism Jews are experiencing world wide, are superior to those of the people that think and act otherwise.And I firmly believe we have the right to protect our shores from the illegal invasion of those with whom we have little in common, whose presence will distort our society and quite likely have the intent to inflict ill will towards us. They are based on both my moral and political beliefs and my resulting sense of 'right and wrong'.You may disagree of course yet you never come out directly and say so.Hence my accusation of your priggishness. Still at least you concede my point regarding Councils accused of house building for illegal immigrants.

John Hawkes ● 9d

Mr Pike'I see you, Andy, for the nasty little shit-stirring racist you are!'I hope, and I am sure you won't take any notice of these offensive comments coming from Boycie; perhaps the most self-regarding, foul mouthed, ignorant and intellectually challenged of all posters to this Forum.

John Hawkes ● 10d

Sadly, that was predictive text deciding I meant Oxford not Oxfam! I'll let my friends and family who went there donate to Oxford Uni :-)

Michael Ixer ● 10d

Mr Ainsworth'Eritrean, Afghan, Iranian, Sudanese, and Somali accounted for nearly three-fifths of small boat arrivals.Afghans were often the single largest group, though numbers fluctuated.Syrians, Eritreans, and Sudanese also feature prominently in irregular entries by air and other methods.All eminently worth fleeing for their lives, I should think.'Why do you think that ?For what reasons are they under any form of persecution from their governments ?If you know, please share with the rest of us and explain why the UK has a particular responsibility for them and why they find it so attractive to come here compared with other African and Middle Eastern countries with whom one would have thought they had more in common.

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Ixer'Isn't it human nature to look for a better life and migrate to where one's told their are opportunities? I doubt whether those migrating do a rigorous risk or cost v benefit analysis? Or else their lives are so shit it's worth risking death? I guess it's easy to criticise from the comfort of a centrally heated house with soft furnishings and watching news on the TV?'It is of course 'human nature', just as is wishing to protect your borders from irregular immigrants that do not share with us any common history, culture, religion (in the main) and social attitudes in general.You have told us how philanthropic you are.Have you not considered expressing this in practical terms by offering to supervise and house immigrants in 'the comfort of (your) centrally heated house with soft furnishings' whilst they seek formal asylum and can move into a new purpose built home ?

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Hawkes, it amused me you calling me a prig; pot, kettle and all that? :-) The RNLI isn't one of the charities I've donated to this year (you obviously didn't read my other post) but I also haven't criticised them either. I think it was Mr Farage who first raised this issue, and seemed to kick off a reaction against the RNLI, who I think we can agree were only doing their job, and doing it well; I think it also sparked donations for a pro RNLI fund called the 'Flying Farage'. I was perhaps being a bit harsh but just jumping on what in my opinion was misinformation as I didn't think it was helpful to propagate what might be perceived as negative publicity about the RNLI. At the time of my post I hadn't seen the report about housing; I'd been busy with Christmas,  new year stuff and friends & family. Sue Hammond helpfully provided a reference link.Yes, I do still try and keep in touch with the cybersec, infosec, IT, risk world (and because I  get invites to the International Cyber Expo that gives me access to the International Security Expo where people like the Border Force show off their "toys"!) as from time to time I do a small amount of volunteer policy stuff for charity - and I gave some background info about BT's Digital Voice initiative on this forum a while ago.Anyway, that's enough time on this forum today.

Michael Ixer ● 10d

Mr Ainsworth"Lifeboat crew members who are called out to migrants crossing the Channel in small boats have told the BBC they make no apologies for saving lives at sea.One would expect no less.Do you have reference to any statement by Farage where he expressly said the RNLI should not assist boat people in (self-induced) distress ?

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Ixer'And Direct Debits: Oxford, Action Aid, cats Protection,  Greenpeace (not a charity), Imperial College, and subscriptions to a number of astronomy, science, arts, etc charities ...'Gosh isn't your philanthropy a well kept secret.Still I am glad to see Oxford University is a recipient of your largesse !

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Ixer'A major issue is the large number of undocumented people here already which the previous government let build up; I understand processing and deportations of failed applications is speeding up, but I'll be honest, I've not seen any recent statistics. 'Ah it's all the fault of the wicked Tories !Problem probably started under Mrs Thatcher.

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Ainsworth'England will sell off more than eight times as many council homes in 2025/26 as were constructed the previous year, research has found.'Surely Angela Raynor Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government from July 2024 until her resignation in September 2025 has the power to do two things.1) As Deputy leader of the Labour Party she could encourage Starmer to introduce legislation that forbids the selling of Council Housing as is possible now.2) She could also lean on Matthew Pennycook MP Minister of Housing, Communities & Local Government to ensure Labour's Manifesto on house building be fully implemented."JUST ANNOUNCED: Labour will build 1.5 million homes to save the dream of homeownershipOct 11, 2023"https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/just-announced-labour-will-build-1-5-million-homes-to-save-the-dream-of-homeownership/But of course with total of 41,472 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats in 2025 - almost 5,000 more than the previous year, which was the highest number since 2022, when nearly 46,000 migrants crossed, keeping up with the demand could be a challenge.Who loses out ?Indigenous Brits on Council waiting lists.

John Hawkes ● 10d

RNLI only cover the small boat crossings from the coast. The criminal gangs are an "Uber" network from the Mediterranean or elsewhere to France.Top Nationalities by Irregular Entry (Small Boats/Clandestine)(Year ending September 2025 data)Eritrean, Afghan, Iranian, Sudanese, and Somali accounted for nearly three-fifths of small boat arrivals.Afghans were often the single largest group, though numbers fluctuated.Syrians, Eritreans, and Sudanese also feature prominently in irregular entries by air and other methods. All eminently worth fleeing for their lives, I should think. And yes, they will need some money to do it. And the other millions of poorer people still there?

David Ainsworth ● 10d

Mr Ixer'I haven't read about the housing plan and you haven't provided a reference so I'll ignore that.However,  the term "RNLI Uber" is untrue and a slur on that great UK and Irish institution and its volunteers.'Don't be such a prig.And don't try to obfuscate the issue in question.'I haven't read about the housing plan and you haven't provided a reference so I'll ignore that.'Here's one for you from the Independent and so you now have no reason to ignore it."Asylum seekers are to be housed in newly built council homes as part of the Government's push to end the use of migrant hotels.Up to 200 local authorities are said to be keen on the scheme, while five councils - Labour-run Brighton and Hove, Hackney, Peterborough and Thanet, along with Labour-Liberal Democrat-run Powys - have confirmed their interest, according to The i Paper'.As you fully understand no one was criticising the RNLI who I am pleased to see you are so intimate with as you seem to be with so many other bodies.They were doing what is expected of them, a duty the illegal boat people immigrants cynically take full advantage of. How much have you donated to the RNLI in the last year just to give the rest of us some idea of what to do likewise ?

John Hawkes ● 10d

Steven, analogies are never 100% accurate. Perhaps a comparison with Zipcar would be more accurate (or even Waymo taxis  that create havoc during power cuts?) - pay your money for the vehicle then head off on your own? Yes, it is blackmail, but by the racketeers making the money, they know there's an international obligation to save lives at sea which drags the coastguard into action then, if needed, the RNLI into rescuing those in trouble.Isn't it human nature to look for a better life and migrate to where one's told their are opportunities? I doubt whether those migrating do a rigorous risk or cost v benefit analysis? Or else their lives are so shit it's worth risking death? I guess it's easy to criticise from the comfort of a centrally heated house with soft furnishings and watching news on the TV?Irrespective of the immigration issue its imperative to shut down the criminal gangs - once they've made their money they'll invest it in another criminal activity; perhaps expect another wave of cyber crime? Less chance of getting caught and western companies and organisations make it too easy to be successful ...

Michael Ixer ● 10d

Thanks for that. Interesting detail:-"The estate would also undergo major transport changes under the plans, with part of Arabella Drive closed to vehicles to make way for the new homes. Traffic would be rerouted along Ludovick Walk so that it would provide one-way access through this part of the estate."Really opens up planning to a new vista that. What about "air rights" building? Buildings using the completely wasted space above roads? Roads in tunnels?Think big. WBC could sell these air rights developments and generate some much-needed cash for their other services!There is too much green stuff in the area too.

David Ainsworth ● 10d

"The only way to stop this is to immediately detain anyone who arrives here illegally and then immediately deport them."Would that it were so simple.https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aSQlDf4eh_0

David Ainsworth ● 10d

Andy if you page down on front page of the forum it has information on the Lennox Estate. Has pictures.

Barbara Stevens ● 10d

The criminal gangs are in no sense an Uber service. They don’t accompany the migrants to Britain. All they do is take a lot of money in advance, deliberately provide a dangerously flimsy dinghy, fill it to the brim with migrants and disappear. The service conducting the migrants to Britain after a couple of perilous hours on the water is provided by the RNLI and the Border Force. Your question , ‘What would you do: let them drown?’ exactly demonstrates the nature of the blackmail. In left leaning circles it is considered racist or xenophobic to criticise the migrants for seeking unauthorised entry to the UK and abusing the good offices of the RNLI  by deliberately putting themselves in harm’s way.  So the bien pensant prefer to confine their criticism to the criminal gangs. But the migrants themselves, who  it should be remembered choose to leave a safe country called France, must also bear a share of the responsibility.

Steven Rose ● 10d

These are illegal migrants who have crossed several safe countries to claim asylum.  Please do not call people racist if the Government of the land cannot control its borders.The only way to stop this is to immediately detain anyone who arrives here illegally and then immediately deport them.  Not offer new housing.

Robert Wheeler ● 10d

Did you have a bad night Gerry?Have another drink.I told you I have no truck for Farage and was simply poonting out the Govts suggestion of building new council homes specifically to get the illegals out of hotels.But in the absence of sensible discourse i'll let you swear at someone else. Remember folk who don't agree with you are not racist or anything else. They simply have a diffetent view which, of course, you are entitled to disagree with but please cut out assumptipns and personal insults.it adds nothing to the discussion.Anyway try to have a happy new year.

Andy Pike ● 10d

You guys and your endless questions! I asked you where are you getting your bollox from? By bollox, I mean your description of asylum seekers as ‘illegals’ and the suggestion that whilst asylum seekers applications are taking years to be processed through no fault of their own, they are jumping the queue for council housing. Stop feigning innocence like some truculent teen and man up for a change.Also, you bang on about ‘useful idiots’ who support Palestinians right to a dignified life, while saying diddly squat about Nigel’s ‘gas ‘em all ‘ comments. I see you, Andy, for the nasty little shit-stirring racist you are!

Gerry Boyce ● 10d

Well, they stopped our fishermen fishing in their waters, perhaps theybshould try a bit harder.

Barbara Stevens ● 10d

"why do ordinary men have to go to France and do the Governments job for them."The total French western coastline is 1,000 km (plus 67 km for Belgium). France cannot control it, assuming that they wish to. If Britain put in sufficiently large numbers of official personnel onto the French coast, well, I do wonder what the French would do.A partial solution would be improved control of the Mediterranean. It has been improved in the Greece and Balkans area, but it seems to have shifted more to the Central Mediterranean (Libya) area.For EU citizens, Europe remains largely border-free. For non-EU visitors, digital systems are adding new pre-travel checks and border entry registration, while some countries are temporarily bringing back physical internal checks for heightened security. Better late than never.

David Ainsworth ● 10d

That Lennox build puzzles me a little. Not because the properties are not needed but ( if its the green area I'm thinking of) i thought it was land not to be built on. Many years ago David Mellor supported  the residents to stop a developer building on a green area on the Lennox.in the end the land was passed to the housing dept with a caveat that they could not build on it in the future.It could be a different location on the estate though there are very few greens on the estate. If its the same area one must assume the  Council have used planning powers to cancel the restriction.

Andy Pike ● 10d

Steven, use your brain! It's the people traffickers who are paid to be the Uber service. The RNLI are the AA or RAC rescue service that are called out when the breakdowns - the sinkings - occur. What would you do: let them drown? That's why the language is inflammatory, or perhaps you see that as the solution?

Michael Ixer ● 10d

They are also meant to be building more blocks of flats on the Lennox, so more children in the little Primary school and Secondary school. Surely this will cut out the light to the existing properties there already. A lot of the illegals already appear to have money otherwise they wouldn't be able to afford to get here on the boats in the first place. Their just taking our Country for a ride. Why has nobody got the sense to see this and just send them back, why do ordinary men have to go to France and do the Governments job for them.

Barbara Stevens ● 10d

GerryTell me whats not right about my last post?Is it that there are no waiting lists fir public housing, no families in temp accom,no ex service families looking fir housing? Or do you believe the gangs profiting from the transportation of illegals will not use this policy as a lure for more to follow?Just need your clarity on the bolloxs you see.

Andy Pike ● 10d

Where are you getting all this bollox from, Andy? I’m guessing you’re putting two and two together and coming up with five…or just thinking outside the box.

Gerry Boyce ● 10d

It seems my Uber comment has given some a handy distraction from the real issue here. Which is the intention to build new council housing for those currently rrsiding in hotels having arrived here illegally.The Govt talk of smashing the gangs but surely this policy will give the gangs new advertising impetus'Let us get you to the UK where they will welcome you with a brand new home'Put yourself in the shoes of the exusting council or private tenant living in overcrowded or unfit accomodation. Or the ex squaddie looking for a new home for him and his family, the homeless on our streets or in temporary accomodation. Do you think its fair on them ?

Andy Pike ● 10d

Andy's remark that the RNLI is being used as an Uber service, far from 'stirring things up', is not far off the mark.. Illegal migrants, by deliberately setting out across the Channel in flimsy, overloaded dinghies which can capsize at any moment, are effectively blackmailing the RNLI into saving their lives and taking them to Britain. It's a bit like calling an Uber and telling the driver that unless he takes you to your destination for free, you'll kill yourself and your children. Meanwhile the lifeboat crews are being prevented from attending to boats that have accidentally rather than deliberately got into distress.

Steven Rose ● 10d

BBC 29 July 2025"Lifeboat crew members who are called out to migrants crossing the Channel in small boats have told the BBC they make no apologies for saving lives at sea.The RNLI has faced accusations from some on social media, including Nigel Farage, that it was acting as a "taxi service" for people trying to enter the UK illegally.But its members said they would react to any incident they were asked to by the Coastguard and would go to the aid of anyone in trouble on or in the water.Last year, lifeboat crews responded 114 times to small boats - representing just over 1% of their total call-outs across the UK and Ireland.The charity said it rescued 1,371 people, 3.7% of the total number who crossed the Channel in 2024, and had saved the lives of 58 migrants, including children.Paula Lain, who works as a management consultant when she's not volunteering for the RNLI, said: "When our pager goes, we're not thinking anything political."We're all thinking about people. We're actively compassionate. That's what drives us beyond any moral or civic responsibility."Apparently Farage's attacks (still ongoing) massively increased donations to the RNLI.

David Ainsworth ● 10d

What surprises me, Andy is your flattening out of complex problems to tabloid  level hysteria-bites. You should know better.

Gerry Boyce ● 10d

Quite a while, much of it under the Tories.The UK government made several large fixed payments to the Rwandan government's Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF), which were not tied to specific per-person costs or house construction: £120 million paid in April 2022.£100 million paid in April 2023.£50 million paid in April 2024. These payments, totaling £270 million, were intended to support economic development in Rwanda and were made irrespective of the number of people relocated. The "integration package" for each individual, which includes accommodation costs, would have been paid on top of this. It is also important to note:No asylum seekers were ever forcibly sent to Rwanda under the policy before it was cancelled by the new UK government in July 2024, though a few people went voluntarily. The total cost of the failed scheme to the UK taxpayer was estimated at around £700 million by the current Home Secretary, covering various expenses including payments to Rwanda, legal fees, and staff costs. I suppose these newly announced housing schemes might at least leave some new housing built in the UK.

David Ainsworth ● 10d

I susoect my real knowledge on social housing ( lived and worked,) would probably surprise you.And for your information Farage would not be on my list of candidates to vote for. But you carry on with your uniformed guesswork and cheap personal insults if it makes you happy.

Andy Pike ● 11d

‘ Ubers for illegals’!The level of ignorance you display Andy on every level is, literally, unbelievable. Your ignorance on immigration, social housing, planning etc. is nothing short of remarkable.Good luck with Nigel and the ‘gas ‘em all’ brigade.

Gerry Boyce ● 11d

😎👊 Spot on , Mike!

Gerry Boyce ● 11d

And Direct Debits: Oxford, Action Aid, cats Protection,  Greenpeace (not a charity), Imperial College, and subscriptions to a number of astronomy, science, arts, etc charities ...

Michael Ixer ● 11d

Andy. I don't think what your friend says necessarily contradicts the process the Border Force person described. I was told at a presentation by the a representative from RNLI in Putney that they were activated by a request from the coast guard. It just sounds like they get far too many activations ... but describing is as an Uber service just seems to be deliberately trying to stir things up - personally I doubt that will fix the problem, I'm not sure it's good for the RNLI's PR. Yes, the gangs needs to be smashed and put in prison, and it's disappointing action has been so slow so far in stopping them.A major issue is the large number of undocumented people here already which the previous government let build up; I understand processing and deportations of failed applications is speeding up, but I'll be honest, I've not seen any recent statistics. New arrivals are a problem but I guess most of the accommodation is being taken up by the numbers accumulated during nearly a decade? I guess something needs to be considered to reduce the costs of accommodation while they're processes?Trouble is these aren't new problems, they've been building up over a decade or more :-(

Michael Ixer ● 11d

Thanks for the article. Some interesting statistics there on shortage of council housing and inability to maintain the remaining ageing stock:-"However, the proposals are expected to spark fury among the public, many of whom are sitting on long waiting lists for council housing themselves.Last year, 1.3 million people were on social housing waiting lists across England – a 3 per cent increase on 2023 and the highest number since 2014. Yet supply is not meeting demand, with 20,560 social homes lost in 2023/2024, primarily through Right to Buy sales and demolitions. England will sell off more than eight times as many council homes in 2025/26 as were constructed the previous year, research has found."

David Ainsworth ● 11d

Fyi Michael the 4 charities that i have direct debit arrangements with are the RNLI, SANDS,GUIDE DOGS and LONDON AIR AMBULANCE. We  can all speak to people and my contacts at the RNLI are fed up with being used as Ubers for the illegals and potentially missing shouts for people in trouble in their locations.Sorry no free ballpoint though.

Andy Pike ● 11d

Well Michael, you must be one of the only ones who haven't heard of it. We already have our vigilantes over in France already stabbing the rubber boats because our Country is doing nothing to stop them coming here. Also they have advertised about building properties.

Barbara Stevens ● 11d

Housing proposal:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15422977/New-council-houses-built-asylum-seekers-push-end-use-hotels-intense-public-backlash-expected.html

Sue Hammond ● 11d

I haven't read about the housing plan and you haven't provided a reference so I'll ignore that.However,  the term "RNLI Uber" is untrue and a slur on that great UK and Irish institution and its volunteers.I had the opportunity to  speak to one of the Border Force personnel at a security event back in September - he was displaying a drone and I asked him if I could take a picture of it; he was fine with that, and I also got a complimentary Border Force pen!We discussed the process and the Border Force will use drones and other aerial surveillance measures to monitor boats approaching the UK waters and shores so they can rendezvous with them and pick up anyone landing without the correct documentation.  If boats get into trouble the coast guard are responsible for exacting a rescue.  As is the usual procedure, if lives are likely to be lost and the coast guard can't deal with it then the RNLI are called to effect a rescue to save lives. Perhaps check your facts before making false accusations about the RNLI. Perhaps you should make a donation to them to compensate for your slur?

Michael Ixer ● 11d

If this outrageous scheme goes ahead I predict civil unrest.

Sue Hammond ● 11d

What makes me annoyed, their building more properties, but what about the poor people in council housing who's properties are in such a disgusting state of disrepair, with mold etc.  Shouldn't they spend some money on them. Why do we continually hear about the illegals being looked after, do they actually expect them to be more grateful.  I also heard another Country have found out people are making millions by making out they are running schools and children's homes. When somebody is now looking into it it's all lies, the buildings are empty and the governments money is being used for expensive cars etc. Officials who have gone round to these properties have found they are not being used for the money that has been claimed for. No children to be seen, it's all lies.

Barbara Stevens ● 11d

Hello Andy,I believe everybody agrees with you!

Ivonne Holliday ● 11d

Absolutely right.

Steven Rose ● 11d