Ukip leader mocked after claim candidate's rape comment about Labour MP was 'satire'
2 min read
A Labour MP has mocked Ukip after its leader defended a senior member who said he “wouldn’t even rape” her.
Gerard Batten said the comment by top MEP candidate Carl Benjamin was “satire” and insisted he was not a “bad person”.
Mr Benjamin, a prominent YouTuber who goes by the online name ‘Sargon of Akkad’, made the comment about Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips in 2016.
Pressed on the incident this morning, Mr Batten argued: “I think it was satire and he was trying to draw out other people.”
Asked how the comments amounted to satire, Mr Batten said: “I don't know the exact context.
“Look I certainly don't condone any remarks like that - but he is not a bad person as he is trying to be portrayed.”
He argued Mr Benjamin - who has been banned from Twitter - could be a powerful force for Ukip online.
“He is precisely the type of person who Nigel [Farage] would have liked in the party when he was leader because he can open access to us on social media to all kinds of people we want to reach out to,” he said.
But Ms Phillips told the Sun: “These people are deluded little boys who can't stand up an argument with a woman without talking about rape and violence.”
Elsewhere, Mr Batten lashed out at Mr Farage after the former Ukip leader argued his former party had shifted to the far right and attracted violent thugs into its ranks.
Mr Batten said the comments were a “complete smear” and noted that Ukip membership had increased since he took over.
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