A former Reform UK MP caused a stir after wrongly identifying a charity rowing team as illegal migrants – but turned his error into a £1,000 donation, refusing to apologise for the confusion.
Rupert Lowe, now sitting as an independent MP for Great Yarmouth, sparked alarm after sharing an image on social media of a boat spotted near offshore wind turbines along the Norfolk coastline.
“Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities have been 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,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
But the vessel was no migrant boat. It belonged to ROW4MND, a determined crew of four – Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone, and seasoned rower Liz Wardley, taking on a 1,000-mile rowing challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise vital funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research.
Shortly after Lowe’s post, the Coast Guard contacted the team, asking if they had spotted any other dinghies nearby. It soon became evident that the confusion was about their own boat.
After clearing things up with officials, the rowers resumed their journey. But the story didn’t end there.
“We were contacted again by the Coastguard because the police had ‘asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were,’” said Mr Bates.
It wasn’t until later that a friend sent them Lowe’s post, offering what the crew described as a “moment of light relief”.
“We found it hilarious. 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,” said Bates.
Despite the mix-up, the crew noticed unusual behaviour from people onshore.
“It was almost like a vigilante-style, people following us down the beach. They hadn’t twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land,” Bates added.
Once Lowe realised the error, he acknowledged it online, with a donation, but no regret.
“Good news. False alarm!” he posted. “The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. As a well done to the crew, I’ll donate £1,000 to their charity, raising money for MND. Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants!”
Despite the mistake, Lowe defended his reaction. “We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents. I make no apologies for being vigilant for my constituents. It is a national crisis. No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal migrants!”
Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness.
As a well done to the crew, I’ll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND.
Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants!
We received a huge number of urgent complaints from…
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 8, 2025
The ROW4MND journey is just one leg of a mammoth four-part challenge over four years:
- 2024: Land’s End to John O’Groats
- 2025: John O’Groats to Land’s End (reverse route)
- 2027: California to Hawaii
- 2028: New York to London
Their goal? Raise a staggering £57 million for motor neurone disease research.
Due to poor weather, the current leg required a restart after an initial attempt up the Irish Sea. Undeterred, the crew returned to Land’s End and set off again, this time heading east.
“It was about us showing resolve and resilience and hope,” said Bates.
So far, the campaign has raised £107,515. “We’re rowing for hope, we’re rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we’ll raise £57 million, we certainly will if MPs keep talking about us. Maybe Rupert will give us a donation,” Bates joked.
What started as a misjudged online alert has become an unlikely fundraising boost for a team on a noble mission. While Lowe remains unapologetic, his £1,000 pledge adds momentum to the cause.
And with plenty more miles ahead, the rowers say every bit of attention – even mistaken identity – helps push them closer to their life-changing goal.
