Ukip has selected an anti-feminist Eurosceptic YouTube commentator as a candidate should the UK take part in European Parliament elections next month.

Carl Benjamin, who posts online using the moniker Sargon of Akkad, is one of two candidates the Eurosceptic party named on Thursday to stand in the southwest region.

“We went through an exhaustive process to sift over 190 potential candidates down to those the national executive committee representatives and I felt were most suitable,” Ukip leader, Gerard Batten said.

“This list is based on a number of factors that we felt would select candidates to fight for a real Brexit after the European elections. Ukip’s priority is to have MEPs who will fight to make Brexit happen.”

Mr Benjamin has close to one million subscribers to his YouTube channel, on which he produces videos criticising feminism, left-wing politics and the European Union.

Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Show all 5 1 /5 Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by Nigel Farage on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message to the EU on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter

He gained mainstream attention after being accused of promoting a series of rape threats from Twitter users against Labour MP Jess Phillips in 2016.

Ms Phillips had written: “People talking about raping me isn’t fun, but has become somewhat par for the course” on the social media site, leading Mr Benjamin to reply: “I wouldn’t even rape you, Jess Phillips.”

His followers went on to repeat his statement and Ms Phillips later tweeted: “600-odd notifications talking about my rape in one night. I think Twitter is dead.”

A Ukip spokesman has previously condemned Mr Benjamin’s comments, telling The Independent at the time he joined the party the exchange with Ms Phillips was “unpleasant”.

Mr Benjamin is one of several prominent social media activists to join the party under the leadership of Mr Batten, who has been accused of pulling the party towards the hard right.

Mark Meechan, known as Count Dankula and noted for the court case surrounding a video he posted online of his girlfriend’s pug dog performing Nazi salutes, joined the party last year.

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Paul Joseph Watson, the editor-at-large of Alex Jones’ far-right InfoWars website and a YouTuber with more than 1.6 million subscribers, also joined the party in 2018.

Mr Batten has also come under fire for appointing anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson in an advisory role, a move that caused long-time Ukip leader Nigel Farage to quit the party.