James O’Brien has said that an RNLI lifeboat station being forced to close due to anti-migrant protestors is evidence of fascism in action in the UK.
The Portsmouth Lifeboat Station in Eastney has been closed since 10 September following protests in the area against 120 migrants being rescued from a small dinghy and being brought ashore.
Volunteers at the station have been branded “traitors”, had their home addresses shared online and even suffered physical abuse in recent days.
Balaclava-clad men blocked roads on September 6 after the migrants were brought ashore in the area.
This has been followed by days of anti-migrant protests in the Portsmouth areas, and the station in Eastney has been forced to close since 10 September as a result.
Eastney RNLI have also taken down their Facebook page, whilst the Poole Old Lifeboat Museum has also shut down after several incidents of anti-migrant protesters verbally assaulting their volunteers.
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The abuse and vitriol towards volunteers has been so fierce that some have been advised not to wear their RNLI uniform in public on the grounds of safety.
Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation into abusive social media content directed at RNLI volunteers, including two who had their photos, full names and home addresses leaked.
The story sparked an emotional reaction from O’Brien on his LBC show this week, with the presenter labelling it “one of the most disgusting things” he had heard.
The journalist said that is what not just the “vile” behaviour of individuals involved but also the acceptance of this rhetoric in the media and nation.
“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,” he said.
O’Brien went on to make the point that the scenes seen in Portsmouth were as a result of fascism being allowed to “thrive” in this country.
“This isn’t a mystery, fascism doesn’t grow up in countries unsupported and randomly,” he said.
“It doesn’t just sprout out of nowhere while 99% of the population point at it going ‘that’s not very nice, that’s fascism.’
“Fascism rises, fascism succeeds, fascism thrives when you let it, when you applaud it, when you excuse it, when you wave it through because of ‘legitimate concerns,’ when you put politicians in parliament who tacitly or actively encourage it.”
Addressing the lifeboat station closing, the RNLI said in a statement: “We hope to have the lifeboat station back on service as soon as possible. Search and rescue cover continues to be provided through established contingency arrangements, including flank RNLI stations and other declared assets.
“At times, it is not unusual for lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland to be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or other operational requirements. In such circumstances, established contingency arrangements are put in place to ensure continued search and rescue cover.”
The RNLI’s chief executive Peter Sparkes has slammed the hate volunteers are receiving for their work, revealing that some volunteers and staff had even been physically abused.
Sparkes said: “Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel.
“Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.
“The RNLI’s people represent the very best in our society, they selflessly give up their time to keep others safe.”
He added: “Stand by them, not against them and their families. I am extremely proud of and grateful for their vital lifesaving work.”