Bookies have started taking odds on Ukip folding within months

Ukip is in crisis.

As 12 senior figures quit the party at leader Henry Bolton’s refusal to stand down following a string of damaging stories about his personal life – now bookies have started giving odds on the party folding completely.

The resignations came after Ukip’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) backed a motion of no confidence in Bolton on Sunday following the disclosure that his girlfriend had sent racist messages about Meghan Markle.

Mr Bolton, the fifth leader of the beleaguered party in the past 16 chaotic months, has faced a stream of calls to resign since the highly offensive messages sent by Jo Marney, 25, were published by the Mail on Sunday.

However, he says the party – which is saddled with debt – would not survive another leadership contest.

And fears about the future have been backed up by Ladbrokes, which has quoted odds of 2/1 that UKIP field no official candidates at the next General Election.

It is quoting 5/1 that the party is officially de-registered at the Electoral Commission by end of 2018.

The party’s deputy leader and five senior spokesmen resigned on Monday morning and called on Bolton to do the same following the vote of no confidence.

The current list of those to have quit so far:

Margot Parker – Deputy Leader

John Bickley – Immigration Spokesman

Tim Aker – Local Government Spokesman

William Dartmouth – Trade Spokesman

Mike Hookem – Assistant Deputy Leader

Peter Whittle – London spokesman

David Kurten – Education and Apprenticeships Spokesman

Gerard Batten – Brexit Spokesman

David Meacock – Culture Spokesman

Star Anderton – Equalities Spokesperson

Bill Etheridge – Sports Spokesman

David Sprason – Work and Pensions Spokesman

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Yorkshire & Humber MEP Mike Hookem tweeted of his ‘great disappointment’ in a situation that has become ‘an almost farcical scandal’.

Ukip is planning to hold an emergency meeting of ordinary members within the next month.

The party has seen a fall in support over the last 12 months.

In the 2016 general election Ukip only got 1.8% of the vote across the UK – down from 12.6% in 2015.

Bolton is due to make a statement at his hotel in Folkestone at 4pm on Monday afternoon.