EX-Reform MP Rupert Lowe gave £1,000 to a charity team rowing in his constituency after mistaking them for small boat migrants and calling for their deportations.
He wrote on Thursday: “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.”
The crew were reported to the coastguard, who identified them as Row4MND, a team rowing from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a campaign hoping to raise millions for motor neurone disease.
Correcting himself yesterday, now-independent MP Mr Lowe wrote: “Good news. False alarm!
“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.”
Defending his initial concerns, he continued: “We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents.
“I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It’s a national crisis.
“No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal migrants.”
