So is this the end of UKIP?
No confidence vote but Bolton refuses to quit
UKIP was on the brink of collapse last night after party chiefs voted to oust Henry Bolton, who then refused to resign.
The leader insisted he would not quit, despite losing a unanimous vote of no confidence yesterday.
Party members will now decide whether to back the motion, amid warnings on UKIP’s future if they do.
Before yesterday’s vote, Mr Bolton said the party was “over” if he was toppled. But its Brexit spokesman Gerard Batten MEP tweeted: “He should do the decent thing & resign. For God’s sake GO!”
Amid the chaos, former leader Nigel Farage ruled out a dramatic return to save the party. He insisted he would “not for a moment” think about it.
UKIP will hold an emergency meeting within 28 days, where members will make their decision.
They face a fifth leadership contest in 18 months. Senior party figures plotted to axe Mr Bolton after revelations over his affair with Jo Marney, 25. She was exposed for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiancee. Announcing the no-confidence result, UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said: “The vote was carried unanimously with the exception of the leader. “This will automatically trigger an [emergency general meeting]. The party is required to hold such an EGM within 28 days of today’s date, unless Henry Bolton resigns in the meantime.” Mr Bolton, 54, slipped out after the vote in Central London without addressing reporters.
The ex-Army officer had toured TV studios yesterday vowing to stay on even if voted out, as he faced a fresh slew of allegations about Ms Marney.
In messages revealed yesterday, the model allegedly described Muslims as “all f***ing idiots”. Mr Bolton insisted they had now split.