Ex-Ukip leader’s girlfriend says sorry for racist texts
THE girlfriend of ousted Ukip leader Henry Bolton yesterday apologised for offensive text messages she had sent, admitting: “The language I used wasn’t good.”
Jo Marney, 25, appeared with Mr Bolton, 54, on This Morning, in an uneasy exchange with hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
The former glamour model had sent racist texts about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle claiming the actress would “taint” the Royal family if she married into it. She had also referred to Grenfell Tower – where 71 died in the inferno – as a “nest of illegal immigrants”.
But under pressure in the interview she admitted that some of the messages were “disgusting”.
Ms Marney said: “I didn’t mean to cause offence. I think these are things we need to discuss. It was a shocking thing to say. I didn’t mean to cause offence. The language I used was not good.”
She and Mr Bolton began their relationship at Christmas. They said it had ended while he tried to keep his job, but they are officially a couple again and hinted that wedding bells might ring.
Mr Bolton, who quit the party yesterday, tried to play down the content of his girlfriend’s texts.
He said: “I think there is a bigger question here for social media, a big question for society.
“Because some of the stuff that is being spread around by people in their early 20s in private messages is absolutely appalling. They are the sorts of things they would never say face to face or in public.”
Mr Bolton left his wife Tatiana Smurova, 42, and their two young children over Christmas.
Schofield read out her statement that said: “Me and his family have been abandoned. He has not seen his children for two months.”
She added: “I believe nothing can be built on the lies and unhappiness of other people.”