James O’Brien has condemned the abuse of lifeboat volunteers after the RNLI took its Portsmouth station temporarily off service following anti-migration protests.
The LBC presenter called it “one of the most disgusting things” he had heard during his career. Speaking about those who had targeted the charity, he said: “We talk about these people as if they are protestors, as if they have legitimate concerns, as if they speak for anything other than fascism and hatred.”
“Fascism thrives when you let it, when you applaud it, when you excuse it,” he said. LBC has shared the clip.
The station has been off service since 7 September, the day after RNLI crews helped bring a boat carrying about 120 people to Eastney Marina. The RNLI said it paused activity to review the safety and wellbeing of its volunteers. Search and rescue cover continues through neighbouring stations and other services.
What happened at Eastney Marina?
On 6 September, the RNLI was tasked by HM Coastguard to assist the boat near the Isle of Wight. According to the government’s account, more than 200 protesters later gathered at Eastney Marina and tried to block three coaches due to take the passengers for immigration processing.
The coaches could not leave until the early hours of the following morning. Hampshire police said seven officers were injured during the disorder, while police, Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged.
RNLI crew members were subsequently called “traitors”, and their photographs and personal details were circulated online. The charity’s chief executive, Peter Sparkes, said some volunteers and staff had faced online abuse and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.
“Yet they and their families are being threatened by those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard,” Sparkes said.
The RNLI removed the Portsmouth station’s Facebook page. Volunteers elsewhere were advised to consider whether wearing RNLI clothing in public might put them at risk. An RNLI museum in Poole also closed temporarily after volunteers there faced abuse.
Jacqui Irons, the charity’s head of south-east region, said the Portsmouth pause was a duty-of-care decision. The RNLI hopes to bring the station back on service as soon as possible. In the meantime, it says rescue cover remains in place.
O’Brien condemns attacks on rescuers
O’Brien’s response focused on the hostility towards people sent to save lives. He argued that the abuse had been encouraged by those willing to excuse threatening behaviour as an expression of concern about immigration.
Earlier this month, Ed Balls and Susanna Reid discussed the intimidation of RNLI crews on Good Morning Britain. O’Brien’s remarks followed news that the Portsmouth station itself had been taken off service.
The RNLI says its crews launch when tasked by HM Coastguard and help people in danger regardless of their nationality or immigration status. Those brought ashore are handed to the relevant authorities. Sparkes put the charity’s role plainly: “Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea.”
RNLI figures show its lifeboats launched 9,058 times in 2025. Of those, 109 launches, or 1.2%, involved small boats in the Channel. The charity has also rejected claims that it houses asylum seekers or moves them to secret locations.
One man, Del Somerville, 42, has admitted violent disorder in connection with the Eastney protest. He has also been charged with assaulting a police officer and had not entered a plea to that charge at the time of the report. Police continue to investigate the disorder and online threats.
2 responses to “James O’Brien delivers furious verdict after anti-migrant protesters force RNLI station to close”
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I am 80 years old and have never been so angry. I donate to this wonderful organisation and we should be incredibly proud of their dedication to volunteer and put their lives on the line to save others. These ill educated rabble rousers should be made to go out on a shout with them to see what they do.
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They should be arrested and charged with threatening behaviour. They are typical of the unintelligent followers of Reform who are told what to react to by Nigel Farage & Co. These asylum seekers were not a problem when we were part of EU. Nigel Farage created the problem in his eagerness to receive more million pound donations from billionaires who want to lower taxes, even though they never pay then by living out of the UK
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