Council grants RNLI honour after volunteer abuse

A council will grant the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) its highest civic honour following recent hostility directed towards its volunteers.

Portsmouth city councillors agreed to award the charity the Freedom of the City at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

In mid-October, council members approved a notice of motion supporting the award of the civic honour to the Eastney lifeboat station.

It came after the charity's volunteers were targeted by anti-migrant protesters for their role in rescuing small boat migrants in the English Channel.

A Freedom of the City award recognises individuals or organisations for exceptional contributions to the community and city.

Following approval of the motion, the council has now conferred the honour under the Local Government Act 1972.

All members voted in favour of the honour, apart from the seven Reform UK councillors who abstained, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

During a debate about the award held in October, councillors were read an email from the lifeboat station.

It described abuse crew members had received in the city, including being confronted in pubs, yacht clubs and shops, with two reporting their children being bullied at school.

Lib Dem councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson told the full council meeting on Tuesday: "The RNLI have rescued people at danger at sea irrespective of their race, their religion, their sexuality, their gender or their official status.

"These volunteers put their lives at risk and we owe them our thanks.

"We need to stand with these brave volunteers and support the wonderful work that they do at a time when they're facing abuse.

"Our lifeboat station in Eastney is an important part of our city and we need to stand with these brave volunteers."

Arrangements will now be made for the presentation and formal admission to the Freedom of the City.