Nigel Farage has been trolled over his comments on the RNLI with a fundraiser that aims to buy a new life-saving hovercraft named in his honour.
Farage was at the centre of a row last week after he attacked the lifeboat charity for rescuing migrants crossing the English Channel.
The GoFundMe – named “Buy A New RNLI Hovercraft - The Flying Farage” – was created shortly after and has already received more than £40,000 of its £100,000 target from nearly 3,000 donors.
It was set up by Simon Harris, who also runs the popular Facebook page “Men Behaving Dadly”.
In the fundraiser description, he wrote: “I am trying to raise enough money to buy a new lifesaving hovercraft and I would like it to be called ‘The Flying Farage.’
“I feel that this would be incredibly appropriate due to Mr. Farage taking such an active interest in the RNLI’s activities right now.”
Harris then adds what will happen if there is any money left over.
“We will purchase a pint of real English ale to smash the front in the naming ceremony,” he writes. “If there is loads of money left over we may even buy a second vessel and call it ‘The Galloping Grimes’ or ‘The Hovering Hopkins.’”
This is in reference to Conservative and Brexit activist Darren Grimes, who described the RNLI rescue missions in the Channel as “deeply irresponsible”. The second boat title refers to controversial right wing personality Katie Hopkins who previously compared migrants to “cockroaches” in her column with The Sun.
People who donated were very on board with the appeal.
“Truly amazing volunteers who demonstrate the best of British with their selfless public service. Hate will never win,” another person replied.
Someone else added: “I donated because the RNLI is there to save lives whatever the politicians say!”
“The RNLI is a wonderful humanitarian organisation with heroic volunteers. Farage should praise it, not insult it,” a third person commented.
The RNLI was in the headlines last week after the charity’s chief executive Mark Dowie hit back at Farage’s comments and said the charity was proud of its humanitarian work.
The charity also released a four-minute video which showed bodycam footage of volunteers rescuing a dinghy full of people that was stuck in treacherous conditions.
We're proud of the lifesaving work our volunteers do in the Channel – we make no apology for it. Those we rescue are vulnerable people in danger & distress. Each of them is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter - every life is precious. This is why we launch: pic.twitter.com/lORd9NRpdP
— RNLI (@RNLI) July 28, 2021
Farage addressed the row during his show on GB News, where he stood by his suggestion that the RNLI was being used as a “taxi service” for illegal trafficking gangs.
I stand by my comments that the @RNLI are being used as a taxi service for illegal trafficking gangs.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 28, 2021
Here is my message to them after they picked a fight with me in The Guardian today. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/MsyM59bIUJ
His comments prompted a huge surge in donations, with Jayne George, the RNLI fundraising marketing and media director, saying: “We are overwhelmed with the huge level of support we have received from our amazing supporters in the last couple of days.”
You can donate to the RNLI here.
