RNLI Boats Denied Entry to UK Ports

[Alex]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

[JBR]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

This sounds very interesting, but unfortunately I cannot read the article without agreeing to accepting their adverts.
If it is true, it is at last an example of common sense on the part of the RNLI.
Now we need the Border Farce to do exactly the same as the RNLI.

[muddy]

Nearly 800 illegal men in 24  hours
What is the RNLI up too ?
They must be doing this with the full knowledge and consent of the government .

[Alex]

https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/08/rnli-boats-denied-entry-two-ports-met-protesting-crowds-portsmouth-29562896/

The RNLI boats that picked up 140 migrants in the English Channel were denied entry to two larger ports and forced to go ashore during large protests, it has been revealed.

Crews on the boats were also threatened with legal action if they approached either Southampton Port or Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire.

Crews were forced to bring the migrants to Eastney, Hampshire, where around 500 protestors met police, firefighters, Border Force and other officials opposing the operation to bring the migrants ashore.

Eastney is in Portsmouth but is several miles further east along the coastline from Portsmouth Harbour.

A broadcast on an open marine VHF radio detailed that Southampton Vessel Traffic Service and King's Harbour Master Portsmouth denied the RNLI permission to enter both of their ports and their approaches.

The broadcast also informed RNLI coxswains from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight that failure to comply with this would lead to direct criminal prosecution against them.

A spokesperson for Associated British Ports (ABP) confirmed the crew was told not to come to Southampton.

They said: 'ABP did receive an enquiry about landing recovered migrants at the Port of Southampton.

'We had to decline the enquiry as the Port did not have suitable reception facilities available. If there had been a safety of life at sea issue where Southampton was the closest port or if we had received a formal Direction from the authorities, then we would have played a role.

[GrannyMac]

Enough is enough.  We need a government that actually listens to the people.

[klondike]

If a lorry driver comes in with illegals hiding in his vehicle he gets fined. Border Force are a government organisation acting on government policy so fining them is pointless but the RNLI is just a charity. They should pay the same fine for every illegal migrant they bring in as lorry companies have to (iirc it's £7,000 a head). I read that the RNLI chief executive is protesting about the protests. Ludicrous - what does the idiot expect? These people are probably not in any great danger and even if they are they placed themselves in that danger. The RNLI should be stopped from doing this by law and Border Force or the Royal Navy (if they have any working ships) used to stop the French and the dinghies entering UK waters.

As Mac says - enough is enough. We are heading towards some serious civil unrest. If anybody is seriously injured or killed because of that.....

[Dextrous63]

I'm trying to find some local volunteers who can accompany potential burglars who wish to break into my house, steal my goods and maim/abuse/kill me and my family.

It's the new way forward.

[Ashy]

I'm convinced that the RNLI is paid to traffic illegals by the government. It's disguised in the accounts. If these are regular lifeboat crews I don't think they should be doing this escort duty. Some of the Kent lifeboats turn out every single night, they can't be conventional volunteer crews. No employer is going to release lifeboatmen forever, surely?

[Dextrous63]

Makes one wonder what would happen if the volunteers decided to give certain call-outs a miss.  After all, it is voluntary.

[Scrumpy]

It is very sad .. I do not make any financial contributions to the RNLI anymore..
I feel that I am spending money helping (illegals) coming to our shores...

I believe in the way we are protesting.. 
Standing by ,politely waving banners looks like a welcoming party..
does NOT work.. Keep up the good work..

[Dextrous63]

The average cost of launching an RNLI lifeboat is approximately £5,800 for an all-weather boat and £2,200 for an inflatable inshore boat. [1]

Launch and Fleet Costs

• All-weather boat launch: ~£5,800 per launch reflecting fuel, wear-and-tear, and immediate operational overhead.
• Inshore inflatable launch: ~£2,200 per launch.
• New lifeboat costs: A small D class inshore boat costs £101,000, a B class Atlantic 85 costs £322,000, and a major Shannon class all-weather lifeboat costs around £2.78 million. [1, 2]

Overall Operational Costs

• Total running costs: The RNLI spent £190.3 million to run its entire lifesaving and water safety service.
• Crew training: It costs roughly £1,360 per year to train a single volunteer crew member.

[Scrumpy]

Very interesting.. I wonder who is footing the bill. !!

[Dextrous63]

Funding: The service operates independently of central government funding, relying almost entirely on voluntary donations, legacies, and public support.

[klondike]

Bet those donations are way way down. They'll likely be ok with existing donations as they will be in wills but therewill surely new fewer new ones.

[JBR]

Yes, this invasion across the Channel is not  a safety of life at sea issue; the invaders have chosen to make the crossing simply because they can see the financial and other advantages in presenting themselves in this country, especially as we in our 'wisdom' offer I believe far more than any other country.
Consequently, the RNLI are not 'saving' people in danger on the sea; they are assisting them to enter our country illegally.  Consequently, they are not abiding by their own rules.
Of course, there is also the Border Farce, which is also not abiding by its rules: presumably 'a force to protect our borders'.
I am glad to see that at least some of our ports are now denying the entry of illegals into our country.  Hopefully, when we can get rid of this Labour government, we may begin to see the real people of this country beginning to unite with a true government in the restoration of the civilised country we were once proud of and hopefully a more civilised place.