Party leader claims even Taliban couldn’t prepare him for Ukip

Ukip leader Henry Bolton has been photographed with former girlfriend Jo Marney in the bar of a London gentlemen’s club just days after declaring that their romance was over.

Their meeting came hours after Mr Bolton gave a press interview in which he accused political rivals in Ukip of exploiting his private life in an attempt to unseat him, but said he did not rule out getting back together with the 25-year-old model in the future.

Vowing to fight a challenge to his leadership, the former army officer told the Daily Telegraph: “I have seen people die, I have seen people blown up, I have seen people shot. Even the Taliban doesn’t quite prepare you for Ukip though.”

Doorstepped outside the National Liberal Club by the Huffington Post, the Ukip leader said he met Ms Marney to discuss death threats she received after the publication of text messages in which she made disparaging comments about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle.

He said that they were going back to their separate homes, but photographs obtained by the Guido Fawkes website showed them later in the evening at the railway station in Folkestone, where he has a flat.

An aide told the Press Association that Mr Bolton had explained that his former partner went back with him to pick up some bags before returning that evening to her home in Maidstone.

Mr Bolton, 54, is expected to face a vote of no confidence at an emergency meeting of Ukip’s National Executive Committee in London on Sunday, called to discuss the controversy over his leadership.

Henry Bolton with ex-girlfriend Jo Marney.