There has been much noise surrounding criticism of the use of the RNLI for rescuing migrants and the Independent responds. And as is typical for this moronic organ, it is a stupid article.
For almost 200 years the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been revered for the work it does. It is a much-loved charity that commands widespread support. Yet now it has been dragged into another of Britain’s never-ending culture wars.
Actually, it has rather done that for itself. Like other large charities, it spends money on expensive permanent staff so clearly has money to waste (£160k for the CEO, FFS). Also, recall that a year or so back it was dispensing with lifeboatmen over their choice of drinking vessels.
It isn’t being dragged into the culture wars, it has entered them willingly and on the wrong side, frankly.
Those attacking the RNLI for rescuing the lives of migrants drifting around in the English Channel ask many questions about why these brave volunteers are doing what they do.
Well, yes. Some of those volunteers aren’t exactly happy about being used this way either.
But the critics have yet to answer one central question themselves: what would you have the RNLI do instead?
Actually, nothing as it isn’t their role to enable the activities of criminal gangs engaged in people smuggling. This is a role for the navy and coast guard and they should be returning these people to the French shores from whence they came. Until people are forced realise that spending money on people smugglers is a waste, it will continue. In rare cases, maybe the RNLI might be used, but again, hand them over to the relevant forces to take them back to France.
As a signatory to the international convention on asylum, this country has a process for legal entry – likewise for economic migration. Anyone who chooses to bypass this process is breaking the law and if someone’s first act on entry is to break the law, why should we allow them to stay?
The RNLI exists to save lives at sea, and that is what it does. It is not there to act as an alternative Border Force or as an auxiliary arm of HM coastguard or the royal navy.
If the braindead cretin who wrote this piece had actually listened to what Nigel Farage was saying, it was precisely this.
Apart from anything else it is an independent charity supported entirely by public donations, and makes no call on the taxpayer (and thus cannot be accused of misusing public funds).
This is to its credit. However, even this has failed to prevent the toxic corrosion of the wokeism that is poisonings our institutions. No major charity deserves our donations and none will get any from me while they behave as they do and while the majority seize it without consent via the thieving state. I am not a lifeboatman – I don’t live close enough to the sea for one – but if I was, I’d be hanging up my life jacket.
With no dependents, I had intended to leave most of my ‘estate’ to the RNLI, mainly to to prevent the government grabbing it in IHT, but the ‘woke’ treatment of their volunteers in the past and their mis-use in picking up illegals leaving ‘safe’ countries has led to me looking for alternatives. I will be sure to find one that does not squander its income, GDFB perhaps, despite my admiration for the RNLI volunteers.
IIRC you can actually donate to your local lifeboat station. This means it can only be spent on that specific station and the parasites at Poole HQ cannot touch it
RNLI is a very popular charity for people to bequeath to although many decide to support local charities rather than national/international charities instead.
As an ex merchant seaman, the RNLI was once thw only charity which I supported. Then they seemed to change their brief to include things like lifeguards, etc. That’s not what I choose to support. I’d rather give my money to other things. Nowadays I give to the independent lifeboats (such as the excellent one in Sidmouth) but that’s about it, as far as charities are concerned.
Mugs.
As someone elsewhere pointed out if they pick up drug smugglers in the channel with millions worth of drugs they would be obliged to ensure that the proper authorities were contacted.
But people smuggling/trafficking including involving children/slaves/other peeps for who knows what nefarious purpose carries no such obligation???
It’s bizarre that an essential activity like lifeboats remains a charitably-funded one, it should be a function of HM Coastguard Service, funded by a license fee on all sea-going craft in Britain, plus a small levy on all ships passing through UK waters – that way the potential user pays, not the rest of us.
Same applies to air ambulances, all of which are funded by charitable donations: those should be a function of the rescue services funded by general taxation, mitigated by levies on their main clients, such as fallen motor-cyclists and hill-walkers, probably collected via their insurers. Again, the user-group pays, not the rest of us.
But as long as folk are soft/daft enough to donate, then the mega-salaries and unregulated activities will continue.
Air ambulances are used in time critical situations, so are not specific to any one group. Therefore, if not by charity, then solely by general taxation. Anyone could find themselves in need of one, not just the two groups you mention.
I agree that in principle lifeboats and air ambulances should be funded from general taxation, though how much worse would they be after years of political influence?
BiK: The lack of political interference was always my reason for seeing the RNLI as a worthwhile charity – along with their work at sea, of course. As our chairman pointed out that has been ruined by wokeism – rude coffee cups, ffs.