I joined the Liberal Democrat Group at Hampshire County Council this week to show support for the wonderful volunteers at the R.N.L.I. who save lives at sea.

We made a three figure donation to the charity and now display RNLI pin badges, a small way to counter the grossly unfair way the volunteers have been abused by others simply for doing the job they do… rescuing people at sea without fear or favour.

The fact is, responding to calls to assist rubber boats with asylum seekers on board represents little more than 1% of the rescues that the RNLI undertake. Last year, the volunteers saved over 380 lives in seas all around the UK.

The volunteers don’t decide who it is that gets rescued. They respond to all calls.

If politicians want to change or challenge the policy they can write to the Governing body and lobby through democratic means, not encourage thuggery and intimidation towards the volunteers.