An MP has faced criticism after mistaking a charity rowing team for “illegal migrants.” Independent MP Rupert Lowe posted a photo of their boat near Norfolk wind turbines, triggering a coastguard response before realizing his error.
Lowe shared the image on X, writing, “Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW.” He claimed he alerted authorities and vowed to push for deportations if they were migrants. Hours later, he admitted the boat held four charity rowers raising funds for motor neurone disease (MND).
After the blunder, Lowe pledged £1,000 to the crew’s charity. He defended his vigilance, calling migration a “national crisis,” but added, “No mass deportations for the charity rowers.” Critics called his reaction exaggerated and unnecessary.
The crew, including Atlantic rowing record-holder Mike Bates, found the situation “hilarious.” Bates joked, “I’ve not been mistaken for a migrant before.” He also referenced Lowe’s demand for Royal Navy intervention, noting, “The Royal Navy was on the boat—I’m a former Marine.”
Teammate Matthew Parker described a surreal scene: a drone overhead, torch flashes from shore, and a police car arriving. “How did this escalate?” he asked. The rowers had paused to wait out the tide, unaware they’d sparked a national security scare.
The team restarted their Land’s End to John O’Groats journey after bad weather delayed them. They’ve raised £100,000 so far, with Bates quipping, “We’ll hit £57m if MPs keep talking about us.”
The MP, elected under Reform UK but later expelled, denies past allegations of threats against his party’s chairman. The CPS declined to prosecute. His hardline stance on migration continues to stir debate.
While some praised Lowe’s alertness, others called it fear-mongering. The incident highlights tensions over migration rhetoric in the UK. Meanwhile, the rowers hope their story boosts donations for MND research.
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