An Isle of Wight MP has demanded answers from the Home Office after 2 Island lifeboats were involved in the interception of a migrant boat carrying around 160 people.
As first reported by Island Echo, Bembridge and Yarmouth lifeboats were tasked to the vessel at around 10:35, with the boat located roughly halfway between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg.
The lifeboats were later joined by Weymouth RNLI and HM Coastguard aircraft, with those onboard now being taken to Langstone Harbour near Portsmouth.
The incident has since prompted political reaction, with both Reform UK and Conservatives weighing in.
MP Joe Robertson said he is going to contact the Home Office first thing tomorrow to find out where the dinghy was headed.
Reacting to the incident, he has said:
“Extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west.
“We don’t know if this migrant boat was headed for the Isle of Wight but I’ll be contacting the Home Office first thing.
Article continues below this advertisement “We need to know exactly what happened and if new routes are being used for mega-dinghies by people smugglers.”
Taking to social media, Isle of Wight Councillor James Whelan, Reform UK Group Leader on the Isle of Wight, has said:
“Residents should therefore not interpret the presence of our lifeboats in this operation as evidence that the Isle of Wight is being used as a new destination or processing point for small boat arrivals.
“That reassurance does not change my position on the wider issue. Successive governments have failed to properly secure our borders, and communities across the country are understandably frustrated with a system that has allowed illegal Channel crossings to continue.
“We need a national government prepared to secure our borders and restore public confidence in our immigration system.
“But we must also deal in facts. On this occasion, there is no evidence that this vessel was attempting to reach the Isle of Wight, nor that the Island is being used to process those on board.
“I will continue to seek clarity from the relevant authorities and will challenge any proposal that could have a direct impact on Island residents.”
“We thank HM Coastguard and RNLI crews for their continued dedication to rescuing all in peril on the sea. We are continuing to work together with the Home Office to support local first responders.“This Labour Government is cracking down on the evil, criminal smuggler gangs. Summer small boat crossings have fallen to a six-year low, and we are ending the use of asylum hotels for good.“But we’re not complacent. We still have an enormous job ahead of us – but it’s one this government is going to tackle head on.”
Further updates are expected in the coming days.
Anyone who owns a plane needs to keep a constant look out for any illegal boats heading for the Island, and anyone who owns a boat should intercept them, it should not be up to just the life boats to do it. It is the responsibility of the council, the government, the police and even local people to deny any landing of illegal immigrants on the Island, if we don’t, once here, it will be the end of the Island as we know it.
Personally I didn’t think dinghy’s were headed to any
particular location.
I thought the plan was to arrive anywhere on UK shores.
I don’t expect dinghy’s to have navigation systems on
board.
The fact is they are now here, wouldn’t it be better to find out
how such vessels leave France considering we are paying
France up to £662 million under a 3 year border security
agreement.
That is what I recently read in The Guardian
Maybe we are due a rebate
Lol
And the RlNI is begging for money why are they bringing illegals here why not take them to France
The government is allowing the UK to be invaded by undocumented and illegal immigrants. These people do NOT want to assimilate/integrate into the UK’s culture and history, they WANT to destroy it.
It is hardly accurate to say “Successive governments have failed to properly secure our borders, and communities across the country are understandably frustrated with a system that has allowed illegal Channel crossings to continue.” The current government has achieved a massive reduction in the number of boats and migrants crossing and a massive increase in returns. Let us not forget that there were no boats smuggling people across until Brexit when the Dublin treaty which enabled us to return people immediately was dumped and its deterrent effect lost. Thank you Messers Farage and Johnson.
Correct yet another Tory mess for others to clean up.
I will stop donating to the RNLi. A few years ago I gave them £132,000 but no more
Show the French Police are doing well now so the smugglers need new routes. I am sure they will soon be monitored as well.
Well done the French at Calais the gangs are forced to find new harder longer routes. I am sure they will work on these as well soon.
It seems it was launched from the Bay of the Seine in Normandy, roughly 170 miles away from where they usually launch in Calais. That’s why it was passing closer to the IOW and to evade the French authorities. They were shadowed for 10 hours by French boats for safety and requested assistance as soon as they were in UK waters. They usually land in Kent and Sussex in order to be processed and claim asylum. Not much point in them landing here….no border patrols to pick them up, so ended up in Portsmouth as the nearest port with Border Control, a decision take by UK, not them.
Added to which…the south of the island has some treacherous rock formations underneath the water; it’s why craft of any description don’t land there. Bembridge has the Ledge and shallows…both of which need a lot of knowledge and expertise to sail, even if they had that they’d have needed to wait it out for the 3 hour safe tidal window to come around. In full view. Hardly trying to sneak in the back door to rob all our family plastic, are they?
I’m just surprised Nigel’s GB News doesn’t actually explain this. They must know, surely?
It’s a shame that we don’t have any Great White Sharks swimming around..
This is not something the RNLI should be involved with. The RNLI exists to rescue mariners in distress, not act as a taxi service for foreign scroungers!
The government should reimburse the RNLI; charities should not have to bare the cost of government mismanagement and incompetence!!
Very well put and totally agree.
you mean let human beings some children die in the Solent?what a waste of a human shell you are,your oxygen should go to somebody who deserves it!!.
Grow up, there were NO woman or children on this boat, only fighting aged men who hate us, our culture and only want to disappear and resort to crime. Pop the Boats, wouldn’t need to pop many before they give up. Far Right, No, Our Rights, Yes.
would be wonderful if Joe Robertson could possibly spare a few moments for his constituents or even answer their emails and I claim why Southern Housing are allowing tenants in Joseph’s way Shanklin to live on n squalor with asbestos dust now in the air from aryex and from the adhesive which stuck down the original tiles underfoot ,the Black mold on pvc windows which no longer work seals have been perished for past three years Joe!!!!!!!…where is your concerns for your constituents?my son it has now been proven by American specialist had asbestos in his 39 year old lungs which he didn’t get from online ork it was in their flat when Southern took 6 months to fix a leak from roof into their hallway, just just mp.on the immigrant band wagon Joe and let your constituents live in squalor with a slum landlords meeting six year old granddaughter has wallpaper off walks this summer Mold!!!!her solid wood bed and mattress covered in mold and she has constant infections Joe.!!!..her mum is one of your constituents and you hav failed her big time…and all the other tenants in Joseph’s way might not be your idea of a home being a Tory but they have to let be there,!!!!
And you want to put a bigger strain on goverment by welcoming these people on boats..labour voters mind set
The Lifeboats were tasked ?? By who ??
You do have the bay area between Sandown and Shanklin which would be ideal landing grounds.
Now the holiday seasons almost over put up barbed wire on the beaches and get your pitchfork out and patrol the beaches. Do not let them come ashore and tell them to p**s off back to their own country. England for the English and no more migrants.
RNLI save people who ever they are. Good people doing a brilliant job for everyone on the ocean. My question is how many people are coming in via lorry and yacht while we are distracted by the dinghies? News don’t report these numbers!