A controversial YouTuber is set to speak at the University of Kent next week despite protests from the students' union.

Carl Benjamin, who is known as Sargon of Akkad on his channel, has more than 850,000 subscribers and has criticised feminism, Islam and political correctness.

In June, the outspoken 39-year-old joined Ukip as part of the party’s attempt to attract younger, internet-savvy supporters.

He was invited to speak by the UKC Liberty Union but the Kent Union has attempted to block the visit, saying it could "incite racial or religious hatred".

A spokesman from Kent Union said: "We recommended to the University that permission be denied due to the views expressed by Benjamin in the past and our belief that, given the speaker’s controversial views regarding rape culture, religion and race, there is a high risk that the speaker would incite hatred on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation and thus that the law could be broken.

"The University has given permission for the event to go ahead because of their legal obligation to uphold freedom of speech on campus but has imposed strict conditions, including the presence of a controlling officer. Kent Union’s trustees then separately considered the risk of our Society hosting the event and have decided that there is a serious risk that the law will be broken and there is a risk to student safety if the event goes ahead (similar events with Benjamin speaking at other campuses have resulted in violence).

"We are therefore not allowing Benjamin to speak at a Kent Union or Kent Union Society event and we will not be using any Kent Union resources to further Benjamin attending campus.

"We promote and encourage intellectual curiosity, and the sharing and debate of issues and opinions. We respect and advocate the right to free speech, even when views differ, providing they are within the boundaries of the law.

"As a values-led organisation we have a responsibility and duty of care to our members. We proudly uphold our value of inclusivity and we will stand up to hatred and shall always defend the rights of all our members to be and feel safe at University."

Activists have also launched a petition in a bid to stop the speaker having a platform on campus.

But a university spokesman said: "On November 8 the University received an external speaker request from the Kent Union student society Liberty Union.

"This request for speaker Carl Benjamin was assessed and permission granted (with strict conditions) in compliance with the university’s commitment under its charter to freedom of speech and its legal obligations under the Education Act [No.2] 1986 which requires that we "shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for members, students and employees of the establishment and for visiting speakers".

It adds: "The university promotes intellectual curiosity and fully commends our students’ intentions to seek to understand the ideas and opinions of others.

"We have every confidence that they will be able to provide respectful and robust challenge to views different from their own."

Mr Benjamin is now set to give his talk to Liberty Union members called 'Populism in a changing West' next Wednesday.