Leader still faces storm despite split from model
Ukip leader Henry Bolton has ended his relationship with Maidstone glamour model Jo Marney after her apparently racist text messages about Meghan Markle emerged.
But if he thought the questions about his position had gone away, he faced another blow after the chairman of the party’s Kent County association said he should quit.
Nicole Bushill, who stood for Ukip as a parliamentary candidate for Chatham and Aylesford in 2017 said she had begged the leader to stand down as she feared the party’s prospects in local council elections in May would be damaged if he stayed in the job.
News that the fledgling relationship was over broke during an interview with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain on Monday.
The leader, who is based in Folkestone, told the programme he had “ended his romantic relationship” with the fellow Ukip member, who has been embroiled in scandal after sending messages about Meghan Markle. Further stories revealed more alleged comments concerning baby rape and some which appeared to be racist.
Mr Bolton said he would support the model’s family, but he would not be stepping down.
Ms Marney was suspended from the party for comments in which she said Prince Harry’s fiancee, who is mixed race, would “taint” the royal family.
Ms Marney apologised and said her messages had been taken out of context, but she recognised the offence they had caused. Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant condemned the comments in a tweet, saying racism must be stamped out
During Monday’s interview, Mr Bolton said he had only been in a relationship with Ms Marney for a few days before it came out in the news.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said his former girlfriend’s comments were “appalling and insulting” but he did not think they were her core beliefs.
Mr Bolton is thought to be facing a planned vote of no confidence due to be held by Ukip’s national executive on Sunday.
He’s facing criticism about his relationship with Ms Marney after claims he misled the party about his split with his 42-yearold wife, with whom he has two young children.
He has already faced a call to stand down by Harriet Yeo, the former parliamentary candidate who stood for Ukip in Folkestone and Hythe in 2015.