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| UKIP suspends leader's girlfriend after Meghan Markle texts | UKIP suspends leader's girlfriend after Meghan Markle texts |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| UKIP has suspended the girlfriend of party leader Henry Bolton after she apparently made racist remarks about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle. | UKIP has suspended the girlfriend of party leader Henry Bolton after she apparently made racist remarks about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle. |
| The Mail on Sunday has published a series of messages sent by Jo Marney. | The Mail on Sunday has published a series of messages sent by Jo Marney. |
| In them, the 25-year-old model said Ms Markle would "taint" the Royal Family, that she had a "tiny brain" and that black people were ugly. | In them, the 25-year-old model said Ms Markle would "taint" the Royal Family, that she had a "tiny brain" and that black people were ugly. |
| Ms Marney apologised and said her messages had been taken out of context. Mr Bolton did not want to comment. | Ms Marney apologised and said her messages had been taken out of context. Mr Bolton did not want to comment. |
| 'Shocking language' | 'Shocking language' |
| The Mail on Sunday said Ms Marney sent the messages three weeks before her relationship with Mr Bolton started. | The Mail on Sunday said Ms Marney sent the messages three weeks before her relationship with Mr Bolton started. |
| When a reply to one of her messages suggested her comments were racist, she added "so what?" and said she did not want other races invading her culture. | When a reply to one of her messages suggested her comments were racist, she added "so what?" and said she did not want other races invading her culture. |
| In a statement to the newspaper Ms Marney said: "I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used. | In a statement to the newspaper Ms Marney said: "I apologise unreservedly for the shocking language I used. |
| "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." | "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." |
| UKIP has confirmed Ms Marney has been suspended but some members have called for her permanent removal from the party. | UKIP has confirmed Ms Marney has been suspended but some members have called for her permanent removal from the party. |
| Former deputy leader of the party, Peter Whittle, wrote: "These are disgraceful remarks. | Former deputy leader of the party, Peter Whittle, wrote: "These are disgraceful remarks. |
| "This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether." | "This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether." |
| Mr Bolton, 54, confirmed his relationship with Ms Marney in a letter to UKIP supporters earlier this month, after splitting up with his wife. | Mr Bolton, 54, confirmed his relationship with Ms Marney in a letter to UKIP supporters earlier this month, after splitting up with his wife. |
| He denied he had been involved in a "clandestine affair". | He denied he had been involved in a "clandestine affair". |
| Speaking to Daily Politics on Friday, he said he did not want the publicity his relationship with the former glamour model had attracted. | |
| But following the suspension, former UKIP leadership candidate, Ben Walker called for Mr Bolton's resignation. | But following the suspension, former UKIP leadership candidate, Ben Walker called for Mr Bolton's resignation. |
| "You have destroyed your own family; don't destroy our political one too," he wrote. | "You have destroyed your own family; don't destroy our political one too," he wrote. |
| Mr Bolton - a former army officer - took over as UKIP leader in September. | Mr Bolton - a former army officer - took over as UKIP leader in September. |
| He replaced Paul Nuttall, who quit following the general election, which saw the party's vote share shrink to 1.8% from 12.6% in 2015. | He replaced Paul Nuttall, who quit following the general election, which saw the party's vote share shrink to 1.8% from 12.6% in 2015. |