UKIP leader Gerard Batten defends European Parliament candidate's rape tweet 'satire'

The leader of UKIP has defended an election candidate who said they 'wouldn't even rape' Labour MP Jess Phillips. Gerard Batten called the comment 'satire' and praised Carl Benjamin, who was last week picked as an MEP candidate for the South West region. Mr Benjamin had previously written in a tweet to Ms Philips: 'I wouldn't even rape you.' Mr Batten defended the post, telling the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: 'I think this was satire.'