Graham warns Coastguard must be protected after paying tribute to bravery in Parliament
Graham has warned that Coastguard Rescue Officers must not be left facing uncertainty over their future after raising their bravery in Parliament.
Speaking during an Urgent Question on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Graham paid tribute to the Coastguard Rescue Officers who responded to the tragedy off the coast of Withernsea on 2 January, when Grace Keeling, Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe lost their lives.
Graham told the House of Commons that Coastguard Rescue Officers fought in “the most terrible conditions” through the day and late into the night in an attempt to save lives.
He said they acted out of duty, not for money, and pressed the Minister to act with greater urgency before planned changes to Coastguard payments take effect.
The Government has proposed moving Coastguard Rescue Officers to an unpaid volunteer model from September 2026 following a Court of Appeal judgment on worker status.
Graham is warning that this risks weakening the service by making it harder for working people, self-employed people and those with families to continue serving.
Coastguard Rescue Officers are trained 999 emergency responders. They deal with cliff incidents, mud rescues, flooding, missing person searches, suicide attempts and other life-threatening emergencies.
The current payment is modest, around £11 an hour for call-outs and training, but it helps make service possible for people with jobs, families and businesses.
Graham is warning that removing those payments could weaken emergency cover around the coast.
Survey data reported by the Save Our Coastguard campaign suggests many Coastguard Rescue Officers would reduce their hours or leave if payments were removed.
Across Beverley and Holderness, coastal communities including Withernsea, Easington and Kilnsea depend on trained local people being ready to respond when lives are at risk.
The issue comes as thousands of people are expected to visit the coast over the summer.
Graham is supporting the national Save Our Coastguard campaign and is urging residents to sign the petition at saveourcoastguard.co.uk.
In Parliament, Graham asked the Minister:
“When thousands and thousands of people go to the coast this summer and onwards, how can the Minister ensure that they can continue to rely on courageous Coastguard Rescue Officers in future, as they have been able to in the past?”
He added that September is just weeks away and Coastguard Rescue Officers “deserve quick answers”.
Responding, Transport Minister Keir Mather thanked Graham for raising the tragic case of Grace, Sarah and Mark and said he had “heard his call” to go further and faster.
The Minister told MPs there was an urgent need to ensure Coastguard Rescue Officers can continue carrying out their “phenomenal public service” while maintaining public safety and operational capacity across the country.
Graham said:
“The tragedy off the coast of Withernsea on 2 January showed the very best of our Coastguard Rescue Officers, RNLI volunteers, Hornsea Inshore Rescue and emergency services.
“They went out in appalling conditions and did everything they could to save lives.
“That is what the Coastguard does. When the pager goes off, they leave their families, their jobs and their daily lives behind and go towards danger.
“They do not do it for the money. But the small payments they receive help make it possible for people to serve.
“If those payments are removed, there is a real risk that trained, experienced Coastguard Rescue Officers will reduce their hours or leave altogether.
“That would be a disaster for coastal communities like ours.
“This is not a technical argument about employment law. It is about whether people can rely on help being there when the worst happens.
“The Government must not solve a legal problem by creating a public safety problem.
“I will keep pressing Ministers to act with urgency, protect the service and give Coastguard Rescue Officers the certainty and respect they deserve.
“I urge everyone who cares about our coastline to sign the petition at saveourcoastguard.co.uk.”
