Scarborough and Whitby MP calls for controversial coastguard plan to be paused and re-evaluated
Alison Hume MP has called for a plan which would see Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) reclassified as volunteers to be “stopped, paused and re-evaluated” after writing to Maritime Minister Keir Mather about the controversy which has sparked fears about morale and recruitment within the UK’s fourth emergency service.
The Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby recently met CROs from Ravenscar to hear their concerns first-hand about the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) move to strip them of ‘worker’ status in response to a Court of Appeal ruling.
Ms Hume's visit followed her discussions in Westminster with MCA Chief Executive Virginia McVea, during which she voiced her opposition to the change, which is scheduled to come into effect in September.
The issue has also received parliamentary attention, with Ms Hume referenced during a Westminster Hall debate on the matter last week before she contacted Minister Mather to ask him to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all viable option including legislative changes.
CROs currently receive modest payments of just over £11 per hour for emergency call-outs and training commitments.
Many hold other demanding jobs or are self-employed, with coastguards warning that the payments often make it possible for them to continue serving their communities.
Following meetings with local CROs, Ms Hume said she shares concerns that removing worker status could harm personnel levels, reduce recognition for the challenging role they perform and place additional pressure on other emergency services.
During her visit to Ravenscar, Ms Hume heard emotional accounts from coastguards about the realities of the job, including the psychological impact of responding to incidents involving suicide.
Ms Hume, who is also organising an evidence gathering session on the MCA’s stance, said: “HM Coastguard is rightly regarded as the UK's fourth emergency service.
“These men and women don't do this work for the money, but the modest payments they receive recognise the enormous commitment they make and help make volunteering possible for many people.
“Stripping away their worker status risks sending entirely the wrong message to those who put themselves on the line to protect others.
“This plan needs to be stopped, paused and re-evaluated.”
Ms Hume said she will continue raising the matter with ministers and the MCA as coastguards seek assurances over their future status and the long-term resilience of the service.
Local coastguards have warned that the proposed changes could undermine morale, affect retention and ultimately impact emergency response capability along the Yorkshire coast, concerns which Ms Hume says must be considered before the MCA’s “hurried” plan is implemented.
She added: “What struck me most in Ravenscar were the deeply moving stories I heard from coastguards about the traumatic incidents they attend and the sacrifices they make for our communities.
“They are dealing with some of the most difficult situations imaginable, often alongside full-time jobs and family commitments. They deserve respect, recognition and support, not changes that leave them feeling undervalued.
“That's why I'm determined to keep pressing this issue on behalf of coastguards across Scarborough, Whitby, our surrounding villages and also those operating in other parts of the country.”