Ukip leader Henry Bolton spotted with model girlfriend just days after claiming they had split over racist texts
2 min read
Ukip leader Henry Bolton was spotted with his girlfriend, Jo Marney, last night just days after claiming they had broken up amid a row over racist texts.
The pair were seen having dinner in the exclusive National Liberal Club in Westminster before getting the tube together.
This is despite Mr Bolton insisting on Monday that they had split after it emerged that Ms Marney had sent texts in which she said Prince Harry's fiancée, Meghan Markle, had a "tiny brain" and would "taint" the Royal Family.
The glamour model, who later apologised, also claimed people from ethnic minorities are “pushing their way to the top slowly slowly”, before adding: “Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black king”.
When confronted by HuffPost UK last night, Mr Bolton said there was evidence that the messages had been “doctored” and he was supporting her following death threats.
Ms Marney claimed she had been “exploited by my political enemies” and the controversy over the comments was beginning to “fade away.”
Elsewhere, Mr Bolton hinted that they could reignite their romance in future, telling the Telegraph: "I have to say that in that brief time we had in that uninterfered-with relationship, I haven’t been that happy in many years. That relaxed, that comfortable."
"She needs to sort her life out, I need to sort my life out. We will see what happens going forward."
Pressure has been mounting on the Ukip leader to stand aside over the scandal, with senior figures moving to oust him.
Suzanne Evans, former Ukip deputy chair and one-time leadership candidate, said she expected Mr Bolton to lose his job by the end of the week.
She told the BBC’s Daily Politics: “Unfortunately I think he should (resign), and I say that with a very heavy heart because the last thing we need is another leadership election.
Ms Evans urged Mr Bolton to stand down before Ukip's NEC considers a motion of no confidence against him on Sunday.
“I gather there is going to be vote of no confidence against him tabled. I suspect that vote will be won,” she said.
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