Well done all.
Nigel Farage’s comments attacking the RNLI and their work in rescuing migrant boats in the English Channel have prompted a surge in donations to the lifeboat charity.
The RNLI said it received £200,000 in donations yesterday alone, a 2,000 per cent increase on the day before and well above the daily average of £6,000 to £7,000.
It has also recorded a spike in the number of people viewing information on how to volunteer with the charity, according to The Independent.
Farage came under fire for labelling the RNLI as operating a “taxi service for illegal immigration,” comments that he has continued to defend since he made them.
He said that it should be the Royal Navy stepping in to return migrant boats to French ports, and not the RNLI’s responsibility to save lives of those in trouble.
This is the Ramsgate lifeboat today, rammed full.
Sadly the wonderful RNLI in Kent has become a taxi service for illegal immigration, to the dismay of all involved.
What a state of affairs. pic.twitter.com/udqBi7ZVlW
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 4, 2021
Speaking on GB News, he didn’t withdraw his comments and repeated them.
The RNLI have since responded to Farage’s statements, stating that it is their mission to “save lives at sea…without judgement of how they came to be in the water.”
There has been a huge outpouring of support for the charity in the aftermath of Farage’s words, with many saying that the ex-UKIP leader’s comments have prompted them to donate to the charity.
One person said that they would now be “donating every month” to the charity, whilst another said that they donated again “specifically because of” Farage’s comments.
Thank you Nigel Farage & Daily Mail for criticising the incredible work the @RNLI does to rescue migrants. Due to you highlighting their endeavours I'm now donating every month @DewsnapClaire #RNLI https://t.co/9MryJIsqIS
— Laura Waters (@drlaurajwaters) July 29, 2021
Donated before. Donated again just now, specifically because of this. Suspect I’m not alone.
— SionedGC (@Stiniog34) July 28, 2021
And the comments and retweets on the RNLI’s moving video highlighting their work are full of people echoing the sentiment, thanking the charity for their work and saying that they have donated as a result.
Thank you @RNLI for everything you are doing. I just donated. https://t.co/Oqym8ce8Bw
— Stephen Gethins (@StephenGethins) July 28, 2021
Thank you for sharing, I have donated. All support to the @RNLI in the face of such a sickening attack on their vital work
— RachelSBritton (@RachelSBritton) July 28, 2021
Just donated to the RNLI
— Sim Crowther 🏂🏔️🇫🇷🇨🇭🇦🇹🇪🇺 (@CrowtherSim) July 28, 2021
A useful reminder that there remains a lot of good in the world. Well played everyone, well played.
