A FORMER Reform UK MP has admitted mistaking a charity rowing crew for “illegal migrants”.
Rupert Lowe, now the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, shared a picture on Twitter/X on Thursday evening of a boat close to the shore.
He said: “Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing.
“If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported. Enough is enough. Britain needs mass deportations. NOW.”
HM Coastguard contacted the crew to confirm their identities and it was revealed the boat was a team of charity rowers attempting to travel from Land's End to John O'Groats, the BBC reported.
In a later post, Lowe said: “As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1000 to their charity – raising money for MND.”
Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported. Enough is enough. Britain needs mass deportations. NOW. pic.twitter.com/1mCg0ljRQ4
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 7, 2025
The crew of four, which included Mike Bates who is a British record holder for rowing across the Atlantic solo, said they found the post "hilarious".
Bates told the BBC: “I looked to my right and there was maybe a dozen individuals stood on the shoreline staring at us. I've not been mistaken for a migrant before.
“The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat.”
Bates said it was “almost vigilante-style” how people followed them down the beach.
Lowe was expelled from Reform UK after a public bust-up with party leader Nigel Farage.
The team of four set off from Land's End on July 25 and headed north into the Irish Sea before bad weather forced them to stop at Milford Haven in Wales.
So far the team has raised more than £100,000 for charity.
