The Ukip leader, Henry Bolton, should quit his post, senior figures from the party have said, after Bolton’s girlfriend was suspended from the party for a reported barrage of racist remarks including ones about Prince Harry’s fiancee, Meghan Markle.
Bolton, who has been leader of the party for less than four months, came under increasing pressure to resign on Sunday after it was revealed that his girlfriend, Jo Marney, 25, had sent a series of messages to a friend in which she made the highly offensive comments.
The party’s chair, Paul Oakden, said Bolton now found himself with a difficult decision to make and he was expected to decide on Sunday what to do to “help remedy the situation”.
“I think it is very clear that Henry is increasingly in a position where he’s got some difficult decisions to make,” Oakden told BBC’s Sunday Politics. He said the party needed to be “behind our leader 100% in taking that battle forward”.
The party’s national executive committee will meet next Sunday to decide on the next steps, unless Bolton should decide to quit before that meeting. “Whether or not the party decides it is willing to give that support to Henry is for the party to decide,” Oakden said.
The Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge, an influential figure in the party’s libertarian faction, said Bolton should leave now. “I am calling for Henry Bolton to resign as Ukip leader,” he tweeted. “A quick resignation is now essential to allow the party to regroup and campaign properly for Brexit.”
Earlier on Sunday, Ben Walker, a candidate in the last Ukip leadership contest, also called for Bolton to resign, accusing him of having “deeply flawed judgment”.
Bolton’s relationship with Marney, for whom he left his wife, is already under investigation by party officials. Marney said she apologised “unreservedly” for the “shocking language” used in the messages, reported by the Mail on Sunday, but claimed they had been taken out of context.
Peter Whittle, the leader of Ukip’s delegation in the London assembly, called for Marney to be “expelled altogether” for the “disgraceful remarks”.
Oakden said he decided to suspend Marney’s party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages. “Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism,” he told the Mail on Sunday.
Bolton left his wife Tatiana, 42, before his relationship with Marney became public in early January.
The Ukip leader confirmed he had had a “change in my relationship status” in recent weeks and said he had already made clear on social media that he had recently been spending time “with somebody who has become increasingly important to me”.
Should Bolton resign, the party would need to seek its fourth leader since mid-2016, when Nigel Farage resigned after the EU referendum.
Bolton, a relative unknown, replaced Paul Nuttall, who left the role after the party lost swathes of council seats and failed to make any headway in the 2017 election. His predecessor Diana James quit after just 18 days in the role.
In a letter to members, Oakden said the party’s national executive committee ruling body had agreed to discuss the leader’s private life at a special meeting in January.
On Sunday, a teenage activist called on Bolton to back calls for Marney to be expelled from Ukip. He tweeted: “If Henry Bolton truly cares about Ukip he will publicly call for Jo Marney’s removal from the party – her words were blatantly racist and there should be no room for that in Ukip.
“Also it would be hypocritical to allow her to stay … because he said in the leadership election he was the candidate against racism and Nazis so she has to go or he and Ukip are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party.”
Bolton tweeted in reply: “Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information.”
Marney said in a statement: “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.”
Under-fire Ukip chief Henry Bolton has been spotted at Ashford International train station's Eurostar terminal after his model girlfriend apologised for sending racist texts about Meghan Markle.
Asked if he will stand down as leader of the party, Mr Bolton said 'No' before stressing: 'You don't know the context'.
His girlfriend, Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of shocking messages in which she said Prince Harry's 'black American' fiancée will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king'.
Asked if he will stand down as leader of the party, Mr Bolton said 'No' before stressing: 'You don't know the context'
His girlfriend, Jo Marney, 25, sent a series of shocking messages in which she said Prince Harry 's 'black American' fiancée will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king'. Pictured: Ms Marney at Ashford International tonight
After being tracked down again at the Kent station this evening, Ms Marney said her comments were taken 'completely out of context'. Pictured: Mr Bolton attempts to block the camera as he is asked if he will resign
The couple quickly left the terminal when asked questions about the furore, with Mr Bolton keen to stress he was not leaving the country
She apologised earlier today when approached by MailOnline, calling her comments 'reckless and unnecessary'.
But tonight it has also been revealed the model made remarks about child abuse to a friend, comparing it to animal abuse to make a point.
A friend of hers said those comments had been taken out of context and were part of an 'outrage competition'.
After being tracked down again at the Kent station this evening, Ms Marney said her racist comments were taken 'completely out of context'.
The couple quickly left the terminal when asked questions about the furore, with Mr Bolton keen to stress he was not leaving the country.
Jo Marney, 25, apologised outside her home today for a series of racist comments she made about Meghan Markle
He said: 'If we were leaving the country, we'd be catching probably the Eurostar from here.
'But we're going away from the Eurostar, aren't we?'
The embattled politician then appeared to walk away from the terminal.
Earlier today, Ms Marney told MailOnline: 'I'd like to say I'm absolutely devastated by the messages that I've sent and the distress that I've caused anyone by those messages,'She added: 'They were unnecessary, they were reckless, they were overly exaggerated purely for effect.
'They were never intended to be put in the public domain and I'd like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere and deepest apologies to anyone I've hurt and for the distress and embarrassment I've caused my family, friends and the party.'
The 54-year-old party leader, whose relationship with Ms Marney has also led to demands for him to quit, was told by Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge after the texts surfaced: 'Go now. Go quietly and leave us to deal with what's left.'
Mr Bolton, whose relationship with Ms Marney is under investigation by the party, said today that she had been suspended 'immediately upon us receiving this information'.
In a Facebook video message Mr Etheridge said: 'It appears that we are now seeing Ukip resources, which are at best scant, being used to defend Henry's private life.'
He said he would step down as a Ukip spokesman if Mr Bolton, who was elected leader last September, 'insists on prolonging this agony'.
Speaking outside her home today, Ms Marney(pictured) told MailOnline: 'I'd like to say I'm absolutely devastated by the messages that I've sent and the distress that I've caused'
Ukip leader Henry Bolton has faced calls to quit over his relationship with Ms Marney. They are seen together in an undated photograph
A senior UKIP source insisted Mr Bolton had not resigned and was not intending to tonight.
Fellow former Ukip leadership candidate Ben Walker also called for Mr Bolton to resign, accusing him of having 'deeply flawed judgement'.
Ms Marney says that Prince Harry's 'black American' fiancee will 'taint' the Royal Family with 'her seed' and pave the way for a 'black king. Pictured: Meghan and Prince Harry in London on January 9
Mr Bolton tweeted this morning that he was in London and preparing to head down to London to deal with 'other matters'.
The Mail On Sunday also revealed Ms Marney's use of the word 'Negro' and a message reading 'This is Britain, not Africa' during a discussion about the royal engagement.
In a statement last night Ms Marney said: '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.'
Mr Bolton replied to a young party member online who urged him to publicly call for Ms Marney to have her membership removed.
'She has to go or he and @UKIP are doomed if we let this behaviour happen in the party,' the teenage activist said.
In replying Mr Bolton tweeted: 'Jo was suspended immediately upon us receiving this information.'
Peter Whittle, leader of Ukip's delegation in the London Assembly, also called for Ms Marney to be 'expelled altogether' for the 'disgraceful remarks'.
Mr Bolton, whose relationship with Ms Marney has also led to calls for him to quit, was told by Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge(pic in Horden in 2015) after the texts surfaced: 'Go now'
Party chairman Paul Oakden said he decided to suspend Ms Marney's party membership immediately after he was made aware of the messages.
'Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism,' he told the Mail on Sunday.
The report of Ms Marney's use of highly offensive language about people from different ethnic backgrounds comes as Mr Bolton faces an investigation into his controversial private life by senior party officials.
Mr Bolton left wife Tatiana, 42, who gave birth to their second daughter at London's St Pancras station in 2016 after going into labour on a train, prior to his relationship with Ms Marney becoming public in early January.
The Ukip leader confirmed that he had a 'change in my relationship status' in recent weeks, although he denied reports that it had involved 'a clandestine affair with a young lady who happens also to be a member of Ukip'.
In a letter to members, Mr Oakden said the National Executive Committee ruling body agreed to discuss the leader's private life at a special meeting in January.
On her Twitter profile Ms Marney describes herself as a model, actor and journalist, as well as a Brexiteer.
Ms Marney was immediately suspended from Ukip last night after The Mail on Sunday alerted party chiefs to her grossly offensive comments.
The Mail On Sunday's revelations come just days before Bolton is due to face a crunch meeting over his own future with Ukip following outrage over his new relationship.
These are the disgusting texts that forced Ukip to suspend Ms Marney
Mr Bolton tweeted this morning that he was in London and preparing to head down to London to deal with 'other matters'
If Mr Bolton is ousted by the party's ruling National Executive Committee on Thursday, it would leave the party having to elect its fifth leader in barely 18 months.
His position looks increasingly shaky as there is no recent precedent for the partner of the leader of any political party to have been suspended from that party.
One Ukip figure even predicted that the scandal could signal the end of the party, which has battled serious financial problems since Nigel Farage stepped down as leader in the wake of the EU referendum.
In Ms Marney's messages, which she sent to a male friend just three weeks before starting her relationship with Mr Bolton, she sneers at Harry's engagement to Los Angeles-born Markle – who will marry Harry on May 19 – on the grounds that she is a 'black American'.
Ms Marney also describes Ms Markle, whose mother is black and whose father is white, as 'a scrubber' and a 'gender equality t***' who is 'obsessed with race' and a 'dumb little commoner'.
Alluding to ethnic minorities in general, Ms Marney writes that they are 'pushing their way to the top slowly slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black king'.
The ex-model – who has remained in touch with the friend she texted since starting her relationship with Mr Bolton – tells him that she would not have sex 'with a negro'.
When the friend asks her what is wrong with black people, she replies: 'Ugly. Not my thing. Just personal taste. They don't turn me on.'
During the exchange, Ms Marney – who is from Kent and describes herself as an actor and music journalist – also complains that there is 'an immigration problem', saying: 'This is Britain. Not Africa'.
In a stream of vile messages, glamour model Ms Marney(pictured in modelling images) also says that she would never have sex with 'a negro' because they are 'ugly'
After her friend accuses her of being racist, she writes: 'Lol so what... Not wanting other races and cultures to invade your own culture doesn't mean I hate their race. Just means I don't want their cultures invading mine.'
After being confronted with her texts by The Mail on Sunday last night, Ms Marney apologised for her comments which she claimed had been 'taken out of context'.
In a statement, she 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.
'No offence was intended and, again, I apologise unreservedly for any such offence or hurt that my messages have caused to members of the public, members of Ukip my friends, family and loved ones.
'I have disappointed them all and let myself down. I cannot sufficiently express my regret and sadness at having done so.'
Mr Oakden said: 'In light of messages that have been brought to my attention, I have taken the decision to immediately suspend her party membership pending an investigation. Ukip does not, has not and never will condone racism.'
Since news of his relationship broke, Mr Bolton has repeatedly insisted that he will not resign as he is convinced another leadership contest would 'cripple the party'.
He claimed that his marriage to Ms Smurova was already over when he met Miss Marney, and has said: 'I have no doubt I'm going to come out of this, and Jo and I are going to come out of this as a couple, stronger than we went into it.'
Before the racist texts emerged, Mr Oakden said that Mr Bolton and the party were 'keen to work collectively in finding a resolution that best protects the future prospects of Ukip' following the scandal over the relationship.
Henry Bolton, 54, was already facing calls for his resignation after he left his wife Tatiana Smurova (both pictured together) for 25-year-old Jo Marney
Mr Farage quit after the 2016 referendum, saying he had achieved his political ambition. He was followed as leader by Diane James, who lasted just 18 days after feuding with the party's 'old guard'.
Mr Farage then returned briefly, to be succeeded by Paul Nuttall in November 2016. Nuttall resigned after seven months following the Election, when Ukip's polled less than 2 per cent. Steve Crowther took over until Mr Bolton was elected in September. He has failed to lift Ukip's poll ratings above 4 per cent.
Mr Oakden said Mr Bolton now finds himself with a 'difficult' decision to make and is expected to decide on Sunday what to do to 'help remedy the situation'.
He told BBC's Sunday Politics: 'I think it is very clear that Henry is increasingly in a position where he's got some difficult decisions to make.'
Mr Oakden, who declined to give his own views on Mr Bolton's current situation, said the party needs to be 'behind our leader 100 per cent in taking that battle (for Brexit) forward'.
He said: 'Whether or not the party decides it is willing to give that support to Henry is for the party to decide.'
The party's National Executive Committee will meet next Sunday.
Asked by the Press Association whether Mr Bolton should resign former Ukip leader Nigel Farage declined to comment.
Former leadership candidate Suzanne Evans told BBC News: 'It's just another scandal on top of scandal after scandal with Mr Bolton. I understand he is considering his position today.
'We will have to see what the next few hours bring.'
The leader of Ukip must choose between keeping his role or staying with his new girlfriend after she made racist remarks about Meghan Markle, the party’s chairman has said.
Paul Oakden said Henry Bolton had “difficult decisions to make” after Jo Marney, 25, was suspended from Ukip after a series of messages emerged in which she made highly offensive comments about Prince Harry’s fiancee and black people.
Ms Marney has apologised "unreservedly" for the "shocking language" used in the messages, but said they had been "taken out of context".
Mr Bolton’s decision to leave his wife for Ms Marney, and the publicity which followed, was poorly received by some Ukip activists.
But the glamour model’s comments about Ms Markle, which included a suggestion that the actress would "taint our royal family", have left the Ukip leader facing a battle to save his political career.
The party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) is due to discuss Mr Bolton’s status at a meeting next Sunday.
UKIP's leader Henry Bolton is considering his future today after his glamour model girlfriend was accused of sending a series of racist tweets about Meghan Markle.
His 25-year-old lover Jo Marney apologised this afternoon for "reckless and unnecessary" comments where said Ms Markle's "seed" would "taint the Royal Family".
Ray Collins - The Sun Henry Bolton left the mother of his two children for glamour model Jo Marney
According to the Mail on Sunday, Marney allegedly made a string of explosively racist remarks about Prince Harry’s fiancée, claiming the black actress's entry into the Royal Family would "pave the way for a black king.”
During the shocking tirade, the glamour model claims she would never have sex with a "negro", and describes black people as "ugly".
The leaked messages resulted in her immediate suspension from Ukip after the Mail on Sunday alerted party bosses to Jo Marney's highly offensive views.
Outside her home today, she told MailOnline: "I'm absolutely devastated by the messages that I've sent and the distress I've caused by those messages."
Bolton's lover made the vile comments in a text exchange with a male friend
PAUL EDWARDS THE SUN The girlfriend of the Ukip chief apologised for her 'reckless' comments as she left her home this afternoon
Getty - Pool American actress Meghan Markle will marry Prince Harry in May
She added: "'They were unnecessary, they were reckless, they were overly exaggerated purely for effect."
Today party Chairman Paul Oakeden said 54-year-old Mr Bolton has some "difficult decisions to make... and he will make them today."
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics: "He is very focused on those decisions today... I am sure that whatever he does will be the best decision for the party."
The party boss faces choosing between his girlfriend and his job - as furious party execs are set to meet later this week to discuss his status.
The comments were allegedly made by the model in a text exchange with a male friend roughly three weeks before she embarked on a relationship with the politician.
In the conversation, she also targets ethnic minorities in general, saying they are “pushing their way to the top slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black king.”
Ukip leader Henry Bolton is already facing calls for his resignation after he left his 42-year-old wife without warning.
Ukip chairman says leader will make 'decisions' today after his girlfriend was suspended for racist comments about Meghan Markle
On Sunday morning Ukip West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge said he should quit.
He tweeted: "I am calling for Henry Bolton to resign as UKIP leader . A quick resignation is now essential to allow the party to regroup and campaign properly for Brexit."
He said in a video message that his "lack of experience in politics has got the better off him" and accused him of allowing "Ukip resources, which are scant, [tp be] used to defend Henry's private life."
And Liz Hazell, leader of the Ukip group on Walsall council, has accused him of "lying to her face" about his marriage and said he should resign too.
She said: "Henry, you have let yourself down, you have let your family down and you have let Ukip down."
I am calling for Henry Bolton to resign as UKIP leader . A quick resignation is now essential to allow the party to regroup and campaign properly for Brexit — Bill Etheridge (@Billukip) January 14, 2018
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The former Army officer caused national outrage after he left his wife Tatiana Smurova for the young model he met only weeks before Christmas.
Ukip’s National Executive Committee is set to meet on Thursday to decide the party leader’s fate.
If he is ousted, the party will be left to elect its fifth leader in just 18 months.
Nigel Farage stepped down after the referendum, saying his job was done.
He was followed for just 18 days by Diane James, and then Paul Nuttall, who quit after failing to make gains in the 2017 election. Steve Crowther filled in as acting leader until Mt Bolton came into the role in September.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don headphones to listen to music during radio station visit in Brixton
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