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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Rachel Endley

UKIP 'rape joke' candidate Carl Benjamin has milkshake thrown at him again

A UKIP candidate that made comments about raping Labour MP Jess Phillips has had a milkshake thrown at him for the fourth time this wek.

Carl Benjamin has been travelling around the country as part of his campaign for European Union Parliament elections.

The far-right activist, who is being investigated by police for his comments about Ms Phillips, has been targeted several times during his campaign.

The most recent 'milkshaking' happened in Salisbury when he was targeted by opponents in the street.

A Twitter user posted a photograph of him doused in the milkshake alongside the caption: "Dear Racist vile human welcome to Salisbury."

The most recent 'milkshaking' happened in Salisbury when he was targeted by opponents in the street (Twitter)
A Twitter user posted a photograph of him doused in the milkshake alongside the caption: "Dear Racist vile human welcome to Salisbury" (Twitter)

Ukip 'rape joke' man Carl Benjamin forced to admit words can lead to violence

Anti-far-right activists have regularly adopted the tactic of throwing milkshakes as a form of protest at candidates.

Last Friday Mr Benjamin’s tour got off to an ignominious start when he first had kippers thrown at him, before a milkshake was hurled in his direction in Truro, Cornwall.

The following day a UKIP battle bus was  hit with a parking ticket and had milkshake thrown over it  during a party rally in Plymouth.

Onlookers swarming around a man accused of throwing the milkshake (Cornwall Live / SWNS)
UKIP leader Gerard Batten's face was covered in milkshake after it was thrown at Carl Benjamin's tour bus in Plymouth (plymouthherald.co.uk/ WS)

Then on the Sunday police in Totnes arrested one person after officers separated Mr Benjamin’s supporters from demonstrators when he was doused in a milkshake for the third time.

A crowd of about 40 white people reportedly listened to Mr Benjamin as he made another "joke" about restarting the British Empire.

In 2016, Mr Benjamin, who is standing as an MEP in the South West England region, tweeted to Ms Phillips: “I wouldn’t even rape you, @jessphillips”.

He later defended what he called “a joke” and refused to apologise.

The purple bus was parked on a yellow line (plymouthherald.co.uk/ WS)
UKIP MEP candidate Carl Benjamin being covered in milkshake whilst campaigning in Totnes (PA)

Police tell McDonald's to halt milkshake sales during Nigel Farage rally

The University of the West of England cancelled a hustings where he was due to speak out of fears of disturbances, and just days later Exeter Cathedral banned him from a separate election event it is hosting.

Milkshakes have also been used as missiles against MEP candidate Tommy Robinson, the former English Defence League leader whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Robinson, who is standing as an independent in the North West of England, had milkshakes thrown over him twice in as many days in Bury and Warrington.

In 2016, Mr Benjamin, who is standing as an MEP in the South West England region, tweeted to Jess Phillips: “I wouldn’t even rape you, @jessphillips” (Universal News And Sport (Europe))
Tommy Robinson had milkshake thrown over him as he canvassed for the European elections (MirrorPix)

Because of the spread of the practice of throwing milkshakes, police told a McDonald's restaurant to stop selling milkshakes during a Nigel Farage rally amid fears the Brexit party leader would be pelted with a drink.

There were concerns Farage could be targeted by protesters as he spoke at a venue in Edinburgh on Friday.

A sign posted in the window of a nearby McDonald's read: "We will not be selling milkshakes or ice cream tonight.

"This is due to a police request given recent events."

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