UKIP leader Henry Bolton refuses to quit as party 'cannot afford it'

UKIP boss Henry Bolton has defiantly refused to resign and insisted the party "cannot afford" a third leadership contest in the space of two years.

The embattled politician has faced numerous calls to quit, along with the departure of a senior party figure, since he became embroiled in a row over his relationship with a 25-year-old model.

Having split with his wife, married Mr Bolton began dating Jo Marney but ended the "romantic element" of their relationship last week when it emerged the UKIP activist had sent offensive messages about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle.

Ms Marney was also reported to have sent separate messages making jokes about child sexual abuse.

UKIP's ruling body are meeting on Sunday afternoon to discuss Mr Bolton's fate, with the party leader insisting executives will have to force him out as he won't resign.

Ahead of the crunch meeting, the 52-year-old told Sky News: "The party cannot afford the disruption of a change in leadership. So I'm not going anywhere."

The UKIP leader disagreed with the suggestion his three-month spell in charge of the party had been shambolic.

"In three months we've turned around the finances," he said.

"In three months we have levelled out the membership reduction, which has been going down.

"The membership has been going down for about a year, it's now levelling out."

He added: "This is not a court of moral justice, ok? This is a political party that has to deliver an important, strategic voice in the Brexit debate and what happens to this country afterwards.

"I am not going to discuss with you, or anybody else, the intricate details of the breakup of my marriage and the subsequent relationship I've had with someone else.

"I understand that there's some interest, there's some gossip to be had out of it.

"But the important thing is we deal with the internal infighting in our political party so we can deliver on behalf of the 17.4million people who voted to leave the EU."

After being pictured together after their break-up last week, Mr Bolton admitted he and Ms Marney are still in contact.

He revealed they had discussed death threats made against Ms Marney and co-ordinated on evidence they will present to "demonstrate there are people working inside the party and outside the party to destabilise it".

"I'm trying to help her to rebuild her life - it wouldn't be human of me to do otherwise," he said.

Asked if he still might be in a relationship with Ms Marney, Mr Bolton replied: "Define relationship, please. I'm not going to discuss it anymore."

Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday earlier, Mr Bolton had claimed a leadership contest would be "financially almost unviable for the party".

He also suggested, if the NEC act against him on Sunday, it could spell the end of UKIP.

"If the NEC decides to go down the road of months of further infighting and further negative media scrutiny by deciding to pass a vote of no confidence in me, I think that the reality is that the party is probably over," he said.

Mr Bolton's assertion was backed up by former leader Nigel Farage, who admitted he is "concerned about the state of UKIP".

Speaking on his LBC Radio Show, Mr Farage said: "I do just wonder to myself, if UKIP finishes up having another leadership election, whether it can actually survive that."

The MEP also dismissed reports he is ready to launch a new pro-Brexit breakaway party.

He said: "Have I had conversations about bringing people together to get the Brexit campaign firing again on all cylinders? Yes.

"Am I on the verge of forming a new party? Absolutely not. Absolutely not, it isn't going to happen."