Scarborough And Whitby MP Calls For Controversial Coastguard Plan To Be Paused

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has urged ministers to pause and re-evaluate plans that would strip Coastguard Rescue Officers of their 'worker' status.

The Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby has called for a controversial plan that would reclassify Coastguard Rescue Officers as volunteers to be halted and re-evaluated.

Alison Hume MP has written to the Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, regarding the controversy, which has sparked widespread fears about morale and recruitment within what is widely considered the UK’s fourth emergency service.

The proposed changes by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are in response to a recent Court of Appeal ruling. Scheduled to come into effect in September, the move would strip coastguards of their current 'worker' status.

Currently, Coastguard Rescue Officers receive modest payments of just over £11 per hour for their emergency call-outs and training commitments. Local coastguards have warned that these payments often make it financially viable for them to continue serving their coastal communities, as many hold other demanding full-time jobs or are self-employed.

Ms Hume recently travelled to Ravenscar to meet with local Coastguard Rescue Officers and hear their concerns first-hand. During the visit, the MP heard emotional accounts detailing the harsh realities of the job, including the severe psychological impact of responding to traumatic incidents, such as those involving suicide.

Following her meetings with the local teams, Ms Hume stated that she shares their deep concerns. She warned that removing the worker status could severely harm personnel levels, reduce the recognition for the challenging and dangerous role they perform, and ultimately place additional pressure on other emergency services.

The issue has already received parliamentary attention. Ms Hume was referenced during a Westminster Hall debate on the matter last week. This followed her discussions in Westminster with the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Virginia McVea, where the MP firmly voiced her opposition to the hurried plan.

In her subsequent letter to Minister Mather, she asked him to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all viable options, including potential legislative changes, to protect the coastguards.

Ms Hume, who is also organising an evidence-gathering session on the agency'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."

Local coastguards have consistently warned that the proposed changes could undermine morale, affect retention, and severely impact the emergency response capability along the Yorkshire Coast. Ms Hume maintains that these concerns must be fully considered before the plan is implemented.

The MP confirmed she will continue raising the matter with ministers and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as officers seek firm assurances over their future employment status and the long-term resilience of the life-saving service.

Reflecting on the testimonies she heard from the Ravenscar team, Alison Hume 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."

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