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UKIP leader Henry Bolton splits with Jo Marney over Meghan Markle race row

UKIP leader Henry Bolton has broken up with his girlfriend after she made a series of "indefensible" remarks about Meghan Markle.

In a series of text messages sent to a friend, Jo Marney said Prince Harry's "black American" fiancee will "taint" the Royal family with "her seed" and pave the way for a "black king".

The 25-year-old - who describes herself as a model, actor and journalist - also said Ms Markle had a "tiny brain" and that black people were ugly.

Mr Bolton said he was "appalled" with the comments which were made "in the heat of the moment" and "not meant for the public eye".

He told Sky News that he had ended his relationship with Ms Marney, who has been suspended from the party, after "many hours of difficult conversation".

Mr Bolton said UKIP's the chairman was "right" to suspend Ms Marney, but would not say whether he thought she should be thrown out of the party, saying the decision was "nothing to do with him".

Responding to widespread calls for him to stand down as UKIP leader, he said the party "can't afford a leadership change".

He told Sky News: "I'm pushing forward with the agenda of reforming the internal communication, finances and policy making of the party.

"All stuff that needs to be done to allow the party to project its politics into the Brexit debate and the shaping of the country post-Brexit.

"This is all critical stuff and we can't afford a leadership change at the moment."

Former UKIP leadership candidate Ben Walker called for Mr Bolton's resignation, accusing him of having "deeply flawed judgement".

UKIP's National Executive Committee will meet to discuss Mr Bolton's future as leader of the party on Sunday.

Sky News Political Correspondent Lewis Goodall said it is likely there will be a vote of no confidence at the meeting, with one of his sources telling him that Mr Bolton "has few allies and members are leaving in droves".

A senior UKIP figure told him: "The chances of Henry Bolton surviving as UKIP leader are extremely small."

If Mr Bolton were to leave the party it would force UKIP to elect its fifth leader in 18 months.

Ukip's Brexit spokesperon, MEP Gerard Batten, told Sky News: "It is clear the leader finds himself in a very difficult situation.

"But I find it despicable that there are those seeking to use this situation to jockey for a leadership position when there is as yet no vacancy."

Mr Bolton, 54, announced his relationship with Ms Marney in a letter to UKIP supporters earlier this month, but denied it was a "clandestine affair".

He left his wife Tatiana, 42, with whom he has two children, before going public with the relationship.

Mr Bolton said he met Ms Marney at a Boxing Day lunch where he spoke to her "for about five minutes".

Talking about her political views, he said: "We have discussed in the past, immigration and integration issues and she has never expressed her views in such a way as she did in those messages."

He said Ms Marney is "utterly distraught" over the revelations.

She has since apologised "unreservedly" for her comments, but insists her opinions have "been taken out of context".