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UKIP suspends leader's girlfriend after Meghan Markle texts | UKIP suspends leader's girlfriend after Meghan Markle texts |
(about 1 hour 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. |
Asked on the BBC's Sunday Politics about Mr Bolton's future, UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said the leader had "some some difficult decisions to make". | |
"He intends on making those decisions today, and I'm sure whatever he does will be in the best interests of the party," he said. | |
'Shocking language' | 'Shocking language' |
The Mail on Sunday said Ms Marney sent the messages three weeks before her relationship with Mr Bolton, 54, 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. | |
"This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether." | "This person should not just be suspended... but expelled altogether." |
Mr Bolton 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. | Speaking to Daily Politics on Friday, he said he did not want the publicity his relationship with the former glamour model had attracted. |
'He must go' | |
UKIP West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge also called for Mr Bolton to resign. | |
In a Facebook video, Mr Etheridge said he was not commenting on Mr Bolton's private life but said the party had had "nothing but bad publicity" recently. | |
He cited several other complaints including a rise in membership fees, adding that Mr Bolton did not have the "experience, or the political nous or the correct advice to deal with the issue that he faces". | |
"He must go, he must go quickly, he must go as quietly as possible," he said. | |
Former UKIP leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton's resignation. | Former UKIP leadership candidate Ben Walker also 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. | |
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. |