Police investigate Ukip candidate over Jess Phillips rape comments
Source: The Guardian
Police investigate Ukip candidate over Jess Phillips rape comments
European election candidate Carl Benjamin has added to original comments on YouTube
Rajeev Syal
Tue 7 May 2019 20.41 BST First published on Tue 7 May 2019 11.45 BST
Police are investigating comments by a Ukip candidate in the European elections speculating about whether he would rape the MP Jess Phillips amid growing concern over threats to politicians.
Carl Benjamin, Ukips candidate for South West England, sent a tweet to the MP for Birmingham Yardley in 2016 saying I wouldnt even rape you. He added to the comments in a recent video saying: With enough pressure, I might cave.
West Midlands police confirmed officers were examining whether an offence had been committed. It comes as fears grow that toxic rows over Brexit in the run-up to European parliamentary elections later this month will further coarsen public debate.
Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan police commissioner, will be questioned about the safety of MPs when she appears before parliaments human rights committee on Wednesday.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/07/police-investigating-ukip-candidate-youtube-carl-benjamin-jess-phillips-comments