Ukip is collapsing but I back Bolton as leader, says Farage

THE UK Independence Party is on the brink of collapse, Nigel Farage, its former leader, has warned.

Mr Farage said that Henry Bolton should continue as Ukip leader to sort out the party’s problems, but warned that Mr Bolton’s relationship with Jo Marney, a former model, was causing “deep consternation in Ukip circles”.

His remarks came as it emerged that the party faced legal bills running into tens of thousands of pounds from a libel case involving one of its MEPS.

More than 1,500 Ukip members will vote tomorrow on whether Mr Bolton should carry on in office.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph today, Mr Farage said Ukip “is collapsing. There is no point in pretending it is not. Indeed, the situation is even worse than the national press realises.”