Controversy Erupts as Former PM Liz Truss Faces De-Selection Calls Over Appearance on Controversial Platform

Jess Phillips has contacted the Prime Minister, urging him to reconsider former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s party candidacy due to her participation in a discussion on what Phillips describes as a "hateful platform." Phillips criticized Carl Benjamin, the creator of the Lotus Eaters, for his "abhorrent opinions on violence against women," and suggested that Truss should face consequences for her association with him.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 9:

Calls have been made for Rishi Sunak to remove Liz Truss as a Conservative Party candidate following her participation in an event hosted by a YouTuber known for making remarks about raping a Labour MP.

Labour MP Jess Phillips has penned a letter to the Prime Minister, condemning Carl Benjamin, the creator of the Lotus Eaters, for his "abhorrent opinions on violence against women."

Mr. Benjamin argued that he was being "unfairly targeted and misinterpreted," asserting that his earlier remarks were made in jest.

In 2016, Mr. Benjamin posted a message on Twitter stating he "wouldn't even rape" Ms. Phillips, who represents Birmingham Yardley as a Labour MP.

In 2019, during his campaign to become a UKIP MEP, he did not offer an apology and subsequently stated: "I've faced significant backlash for my extreme position of not even raping her. I guess under sufficient pressure I might relent. However, realistically speaking, no one has that much beer."

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In her letter, Ms. Phillips stated, "The influence of individuals such as Benjamin on the political landscape is profound. Such men cause female MPs to feel threatened and deter other women from pursuing political roles, thereby undermining the strength of our democratic system."

Mr. Benjamin responded to X, saying, "It's surprising that lawmakers are intimidated by YouTubers poking fun, given the much more significant and actual danger of terrorism they face."

Ms. Truss is scheduled to be featured on the Lotus Eaters this Wednesday.

The discussion was hosted by Connor Tomlinson, a member of the Conservative party, and took place prior to the announcement of the general election.

He charged that Ms. Truss’s detractors were attempting to tarnish her reputation by labeling her platform as extreme right-wing, asserting that she has done nothing that requires an apology.

An individual familiar with Ms. Truss stated that she has no association with Carl Benjamin.

Ms. Phillips emphasized that Mr. Sunak is obligated to maintain high standards among his MPs and candidates, urging him to prevent Ms. Truss from participating in the upcoming election.

She labeled the Lotus Eaters as a "far-right" and "hateful" platform, asserting that Mr. Benjamin had not only espoused misogynistic beliefs but also propagated conspiracy theories regarding immigration.

She stated: "It's evident that individuals choosing to participate on such a spiteful platform are unfit to represent any political party as candidates.

"Should you possess any integrity, you should not endorse Liz Truss for the Conservative representative of South West Norfolk. Failure to do so would highlight your lack of strength and the depths to which the Conservative Party has deteriorated."

Sky News has reached out to the Conservative Party, the Prime Minister's office, Ms. Truss, and Lotus Eaters seeking their response.

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Benjamin 'criticized and distorted'

Mr. Benjamin replied to the letter on X, stating he felt "under assault and falsely portrayed."

In an extensive declaration, he asserted that he has "a well-established history of advocacy for bringing attention to violence against women and girls in areas often ignored by the mainstream narrative," and he emphasizes that he considers this issue "with utmost seriousness."

He also dismissed the claims he referred to as "misinformation" regarding his political views that were mentioned in Ms. Phillips' letter, and refuted the characterization of Lotus Eaters as a "hateful" platform.

He stated: "As a widely recognized and esteemed conservative outlet, we enjoy considerable popularity and respect among our contemporaries, thanks to our collaborative efforts. Therefore, it makes sense for a conservative like Liz Truss to engage with us to promote a lively discussion of ideas and to communicate openly with the conservative audience without hesitation."

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Ms. Phillips expressed that she did not easily decide on a course of action that would "invite criticism and threats to her doorstep," but emphasized that she "must advocate for her beliefs."

Ms. Truss is striving to keep her position as the representative for South West Norfolk, a seat she has occupied since 2010.

Her tenure as prime minister lasted only 49 days, the briefest in history, concluding when her proposal for tax reductions without financial backing led to the Bank of England stepping in to avert a crisis in the pension markets.

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After resigning from her leading role, she has been involved in several contentious public interviews.

In February, she faced allegations of spreading conspiracy theories when she asserted during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the US that her initiatives to overhaul the economy were undermined by the "administrative state and the deep state."

She has faced criticism for participating in an interview with Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former controversial strategist, and for not speaking out while he lauded Tommy Robinson, the ex-chief of the far-right English Defence League, as a "hero."

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