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Ukip leader splits with girlfriend over racist messages Ukip leader's future uncertain despite splitting from girlfriend
(about 4 hours later)
Henry Bolton says he will not resign as party leader despite furore over racist comments about Meghan Markle Henry Bolton ‘will resign or be sacked’ over his handling of racist comments by Jo Marney
Peter Walker Political correspondentPeter Walker Political correspondent
Mon 15 Jan 2018 12.59 GMT Mon 15 Jan 2018 16.32 GMT
First published on Mon 15 Jan 2018 07.05 GMTFirst published on Mon 15 Jan 2018 07.05 GMT
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Henry Bolton is facing pressure to step down as the leader of Ukip, despite saying on Monday he had ended a relationship with a party activist following the emergence of racist messages she sent. Henry Bolton’s future as Ukip leader is in the balance, with some senior party figures calling on him to resign despite him ending his relationship with an activist found to have sent a series of racist and offensive messages.
Suzanne Evans, the party’s former deputy leader, said she expected Bolton to either resign or be sacked by Ukip’s national executive next weekend because of how he had handled his relationship with Jo Marney. Suzanne Evans, formerly Ukip’s deputy leader, said she expected Bolton to either resign or be sacked because of how he handled his relationship with Jo Marney, who made racial slurs against Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiancee.
Bolton, who was elected to the role three months ago, has said he will stay in the post “for the good of the party”. If he is forced out, Ukip members will have to pick their fifth leader in just over 15 months. Bolton, who was elected to the role three months ago, said he would stay in the post “for the good of the party” and was being unfairly targeted by people who had always opposed his leadership.
He faces an investigation by Ukip’s national executive after the publication of social media messages from Jo Marney, which included racist comments about Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiancee. Some senior Ukip figures said Bolton should not be forced out immediately, in part to avoid a fourth leadership election in 16 months.
A senior Ukip MEP and former leadership candidate, Bill Etheridge, has also called for Bolton to depart, and resigned as a party spokesman. “In Ukip, we tend to give people another chance, but he’s got a lot of explaining to do and he’d better get started doing it now,” said one.
Asked on BBC2’s Daily Politics whether Bolton should go, Evans said: “Unfortunately I think he should, and I say that with a very heavy heart, because the last thing we need is another leadership election. Bolton faces an investigation by Ukip’s national executive committee (NEC), while Bill Etheridge, one of its MEPs and a former leadership candidate, has resigned as a party spokesman and called for Bolton to go “before his ego finally drags the party down”.
Asked whether Bolton should depart, Evans told BBC Two’s Daily Politics: “Unfortunately, I think he should, and I say that with a very heavy heart, because the last thing we need is another leadership election.
“We had great hopes for Henry Bolton. He promised us he’d be the sensible pair of hands after a very rough journey over the last couple of years with so many different leaders. But unfortunately he wasn’t, was he? So I don’t think he has much choice.”“We had great hopes for Henry Bolton. He promised us he’d be the sensible pair of hands after a very rough journey over the last couple of years with so many different leaders. But unfortunately he wasn’t, was he? So I don’t think he has much choice.”
If he did not resign, Evans said the national executive meeting on Sunday would probably have a vote of no confidence against him, adding: “I suspect that vote will be won.” If he did not resign, Evans said the NEC meeting on Sunday would probably hold a vote of no confidence against him, adding: “I suspect that vote will be won.”
Bolton, 54, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday he had split from Marney, 25, who describes herself as a journalist and model. This followed an apparent demand from senior party figures that he choose between her and the job. Earlier on Monday, Bolton, 54, announced he had split from Marney, 25, who describes herself as a journalist and model. This followed an apparent demand from senior party figures that he choose between her and the job.
“The romantic element of the relationship is over, I’m afraid, as of last night,” said Bolton, whose wife and two young children live in Vienna. He described Marney’s comments as “indefensible”. “The romantic element of the relationship is over, I’m afraid, as of last night,” Bolton told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He described Marney’s comments as “indefensible”.
Bolton, who began the relationship with Marney a month ago, dismissed calls from some within Ukip for him to resign, and said he was not departing. Bolton said he met Marney a month ago, and told his wife, Tatiana, three days later. She lives in Vienna with their daughters, aged four and 18 months, something Bolton said was partly down to “family finances”. His wife works for the OSCE, while the Ukip leader’s post is unpaid.
“No, not at all. I have no intention of resigning,” he said. “And indeed the people who have been calling for my resignation are people who for some time have been trying to undermine the leadership of the party in any case.” Bolton said any calls for him to step down had come from “people who for some time have been trying to undermine the leadership of the party in any case”.
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Bolton, who appeared deeply uncomfortable at times, was quizzed on whether he had formally separated from his wife, Tatiana, and when she knew about his relationship with Marney.
In the last period of stability for the party, Farage led Ukip to win almost 4m votes in the 2015 general election, making them the third-biggest party by vote share.In the last period of stability for the party, Farage led Ukip to win almost 4m votes in the 2015 general election, making them the third-biggest party by vote share.
Things went awry shortly after the MEP succeeded Farage in the wake of the Brexit referendum. In just 18 days James was gone, saying splits at the top of the party made it impossible for her to do the job.Things went awry shortly after the MEP succeeded Farage in the wake of the Brexit referendum. In just 18 days James was gone, saying splits at the top of the party made it impossible for her to do the job.
Farage held the fort as interim leader ahead of a new election.Farage held the fort as interim leader ahead of a new election.
The former deputy leader confidently predicted he would help Ukip replace Labour. But this ambition crumbled amid questions about his credibility and a failed tilt at the Stoke Central by-election. He stepped down after Ukip slumped to below 600,000 votes in the 2017 election.The former deputy leader confidently predicted he would help Ukip replace Labour. But this ambition crumbled amid questions about his credibility and a failed tilt at the Stoke Central by-election. He stepped down after Ukip slumped to below 600,000 votes in the 2017 election.
The former party chair stepped up as interim leader as members voted on a permanent replacement.The former party chair stepped up as interim leader as members voted on a permanent replacement.
The little-known former army officer beat off six challengers to win, positioning himself as the sensible candidate who would revamp the party structure. But an unexciting start to his tenure turned chaotic after he began a relationship with much younger activist Jo Marney, who turned out to have sent deeply offensive messages.The little-known former army officer beat off six challengers to win, positioning himself as the sensible candidate who would revamp the party structure. But an unexciting start to his tenure turned chaotic after he began a relationship with much younger activist Jo Marney, who turned out to have sent deeply offensive messages.
Of his wife, Bolton said: “We’re not legally separated or anything, but my wife has been in Austria since July with our two children, and that was a move she made by mutual agreement.” She was told about the new relationship three days after it had begun, he added. Bolton said he had been unaware of Marney’s comments, which also targeted immigrants and Grenfell Tower families. “I’ll be entirely honest, however appalling and insulting those comments that they made in those direct, personal messages are, I honestly don’t believe that those are her core beliefs,” he said.
The living arrangement with his wife was in part due to “family finances”, Bolton said. The Ukip leader’s post is unpaid, and his wife works in Vienna for the OSCE. The pair have two daughters, aged five and 18 months.
Bolton said he had been unaware of Marney’s offensive comments, which also targeted immigrants and Grenfell Tower families. “I’ll be entirely honest, however appalling and insulting those comments that they made in those direct personal messages are, I honestly don’t believe that those are her core beliefs,” he said.
Saying the pair had had “quite intense discussions” before splitting, Bolton said he would not entirely abandon Marney. “I’m going to stand by her and the family in terms of trying to put her life back together. This is not a cold parting of the ways,” he said.Saying the pair had had “quite intense discussions” before splitting, Bolton said he would not entirely abandon Marney. “I’m going to stand by her and the family in terms of trying to put her life back together. This is not a cold parting of the ways,” he said.
The Mail on Sunday had printed texts it said had been sent by Marney, including use of the word “negro” and a message reading: “This is Britain, not Africa” during a discussion about the royal engagement. The senior party source said Bolton needed to work fast if he wanted to save his job. “I think it’s time he spoke to the members and elected members, and not just the party’s bureaucrats,” they said.
Marney was suspended from Ukip after the messages about Markle emerged. The threat to Bolton’s position came as much from a sense that he had not excelled in his role as his relationship with Marney, the source said.
There has been some speculation that if Bolton did step down, Nigel Farage could return to lead Ukip for what would be, counting one caretaker role, a fourth time.
However, some senior members say that while Farage has yet to outline his plans, they are doubtful as to whether he would want to give up his many media commitments to take over a party that has slumped drastically since it finished third by vote share in the 2015 election under his leadership.
UK Independence party (Ukip)UK Independence party (Ukip)
Meghan MarkleMeghan Markle
Race issues
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