Do Your Research

It’s funny how often “Do your research!” is hurled about by people whose investigative skills barely match those of an amoeba – and a rather sluggish one at that. Take the RNLI “funded by the taxpayer” myth. It’s been debunked so many times it’s practically on the endangered species list, yet it still pops up whenever the Facebook research squad needs something to be cross about.

The facts – actual, boring, printed-in-the-RNLI’s-own-accounts facts – are that over 90% of their funding comes from donations and legacies, the rest from trading and investments. No regular government funding. None. Zilch. But hand this to Frank and his mates and they’ll squint at it like it’s the Rosetta Stone, mutter “Yeah, but…” and carry on reposting whatever their mate’s cousin’s plumber said down the pub.

Lately, the outrage has shifted from how the RNLI is funded to who they rescue – namely, migrants in the Channel. The theory goes: they’re taxpayer-funded (false), they’re acting as a “taxi service” (offensive nonsense), and therefore they should… what? Let people drown? Toss them a water wing and a cheery wave? Maritime law and basic human decency say otherwise, but that’s inconvenient for the narrative.

The RNLI’s remit is beautifully simple – rescue anyone in trouble at sea. No nationality checks. No politics. If you’re clinging to a life raft, you get pulled out. And the people who fund that mission – willingly, through donations – do so because they value saving lives more than scoring points in an online bunfight.

So the next time someone barks “Do your research!” while peddling the idea that the RNLI is some taxpayer‑funded migrant ferry service, remember: the only thing they’ve actually researched is how to keep their prejudice afloat in the face of tidal waves of evidence. And that’s a sinking ship if ever there was one.