Ukip chief urged to quit over partner’s ‘racist’ messages

Ukip leader Henry Bolton is facing calls to resign after his girlfriend reportedly made racist remarks about Meghan Markle.

Mr Bolton’s 25-year-old partner Jo Marney sent a series of messages to a friend in which she made highly offensive comments about Prince Harry’s fiancee and black people, the Mail on Sunday said.

The 54-year-old party leader, pictured, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by the party, said yesterday that she had been suspended “immediately upon us receiving this information”.

He is now facing calls to step down, with Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge telling him: “Go now. Go quietly and leave us to deal with what’s left.”

In a Facebook video message Mr Etheridge said: “It appears that we are now seeing Ukip resources, which are at best scant, being used to defend Henry’s private life.”

He said he would step down as a Ukip spokesman if Mr Bolton, who was elected leader last September, “insists on prolonging this agony”.

Fellow former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having “deeply flawed judgment”.

The Mail on Sunday printed texts it said had been sent by Ms Marney, including use of the word “negro” and a message reading “This is Britain, not Africa” during a discussion about the royal engagement.

In a statement Ms Marney said: “The opinions I expressed were deliberately exaggerated in order to make a point and have, to an extent, been taken out of context. Yet I fully recognise the offence they have caused.”

Party chairman Paul Oakden said he decided to suspend Ms Marney’s party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages.