An online petition opposing the appointment of the Shipley MP to the Women and Equalities Committee has received more than 6,000 signatures.

But Philip Davies said he "could not care less" about the petition on the Change.org website, which calls for his removal from the select committee.

The Telegraph & Argus understands that Mr Davies stood unopposed to fill a Conservative spot on the committee, but the Labour Party say they plan to challenge the appointment when it is voted on in Parliament.

In August, Mr Davies gave a speech at the International Conference on Men’s Issues in which he criticised “militant feminists and the politically correct males who pander to this nonsense”.

Mr Davies also successfully campaigned for Parliament to debate men’s issues to mark International Men’s Day.

Jean Hatchet, of London, who has set up the online petition, wrote on the petition page: “If he is not removed as a matter of urgency then women should collectively denounce the legitimacy of the Committee or any motions they propose or pass.

“This is clearly undermining the very nature and intentions of the Committee and the reasons for which it exists.

“Mr Davies has stood for election to this committee as a concrete gesture of his determination to undermine and disrupt any advances that women try to make towards equality and it is a grave moment for our political elite if they acknowledge and legitimise his election."

Mr Davies said he has never argued for women to be treated less favourably than men. He said: “I could not care less about the petition. If anyone can point to any time I have said that men should be treated more than favourably than women, then I would love to know. I have never said that. I don’t know why these people are getting so worked up.

"Men and women should be treated the same, we should be gender blind. I don’t see that that is a controversial thing.

“I’m not going to give into these people. I’m not going to give into these bullies on Twitter. It is democracy by 140 characters.”

Mr Davies was accused of attempting to block proposals aiming to help end violence against women last week. The Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill cleared its first Commons hurdle, despite the Conservative MP opposing the move during a 77-minute speech.

He was accused of attempting to “filibuster” the SNP-sponsored draft law requiring the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention.

He argued that it is “sexist” to say the focus should only be on violence against women. He added that he stands for “true equality” where all people are treated equally.