Ukip chiefs pass vote of no confidence in Henry Bolton after Jo Marney racism scandal triggering vote on his leadership
RANDY UKIP chief Henry Bolton was stripped bare as party chiefs voted unanimously to boot him out for his fling with glamour model Jo Marney.
In a verdict that plunges the party into chaos, the twice-wed ex-Army chief was the only member of UKIP’s 15-strong ruling body to vote in favour of him remaining in post.
His future will now be decided by party members in 28 days’ time at an emergency general meeting.
Amid fears of fresh revelations about his private life, UKIP top brass urged the 54 year-old to save himself from further humiliation by going now.
Gerard Batten MEP resigned as Mr Bolton’s Brexit spokesman and begged on Twitter: “For God’s Sake GO!”
Suzanne Evans, former UKIP leadership candidate told the Sun: “He has to go. He’ll be mad not too. He is not the stable family man he pretended to be.
“But once again he was Nigel Farage’s preferred candidate and they are the ones that go loopy loo.”
Neil Hamilton, Ukip’s leader in Wales, said Mr Bolton should “seek psychological help”. Friends of Nigel Farage rubbished claims he could make a return and dismissed suggestions he was setting up a new party.
The vote came just days after Mr Bolton insisted his relationship with Ms Marney was over – only to be spotted taking for a meal and driving her back to his Folkestone home. He was forced to say they had not had sex, but the activist had come to pick up her bags.
Hours before the vote, a defiant Mr Bolton vowed to hang onto his job - warning UKIP may not survive another leadership election.
And he once more leapt to Ms Marney’s defence.
He insisted she was aware she had done wrong in sending racist texts and social media messages about Meghan Markle among others.
But he said she had received death threats and he wanted to support her in “rebuilding her life”.
The Sun revealed the 54 year-old was seeing Ms Marney at the start of the year. Mr Bolton, wearing slippers, answered the door at Jo’s family home near Maidstone when The Sun went to ask her about the relationship.
Mr Bolton insisted he left wife Tatiana, 42, prior to the relationship being revealed.
Mr Bolton told ITV’s Peston On Sunday: “I don’t believe I have done anything wrong.
“My own personal life, it’s a little bit of a mess at the moment. I need to sort that out, of course.”
Asked about claims his estranged wife still did not know if their marriage was over, he replied: “My wife and I have exchanged lengthy emails on this. We have spoken a couple of times on the phone, but that is my business.”
UKIP won the European elections just four years ago.
But since the referendum, Ukip has struggled to hang on to a leader.
Diane James quit within a matter of weeks after replacing Nigel Farage.
Another election saw Paul Nuttall take the job, only to step down just seven months later.
Steve Crowther stepped in as acting leader while a fresh poll was held and Mr Bolton took over at the end of September.
MOST READ IN POLITICS:
Neil Hamilton, Ukip’s leader in Wales, urged Mr Bolton to quit so “we can get on with rebuilding the party without further distraction”.
He said: “If he forces us to hold an EGM, he will only humiliate himself further.
“His recent behaviour has been so irrational, he should seek psychological help.
“With a calm, experienced person like Gerard Batten MEP or Mike Hookem MEP as interim leader, we can establish the party’s role in a post-Brexit Britain.”