preview for UKIP Leader Splits With Girlfriend After She Reportedly Made Racist Comments About Meghan Markle

UKIP leader Henry Bolton has said he has ended his relationship with his 25-year-old girlfriend after she was reported to have made racist remarks about Meghan Markle.

On Monday, 54-year-old Mr Bolton confirmed he had ended the romance with Jo Marney after it emerged she had sent a series of text messages saying 'black American Meghan' would 'taint' the royal family and pave the way for a 'black king', according to a report by the Mail on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Bolton said: 'The romantic element of the relationship is over, I'm afraid, as of last night.'

He also confirmed that he left his wife, who lives in Austria with their two children, prior to making his relationship with Marney public earlier this month.

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Bolton described Marney's comments as 'indefensible' but said he has no intention of resigning from the role he has held for the last three months.

'I have no intention of resigning,' he added. 'And indeed the people who have been calling for my resignation are people who for some time have been trying to undermine the leadership of the party in any case.'

Marney's messages were sent to a male friend three weeks before she started her relationship with Bolton, the Mail on Sunday claims. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Bolton said he had 'absolutely no idea' about his new girlfriend's reported views, which he described as 'appalling words'.

The UKIP supporter, who describes herself as a 'Presenter. Music Journalist. Model. Actor. Brexiteer,' on her Twitter profile, has been suspended from the party pending an investigation. She has since apologised to the MailOnline, calling her text messages 'reckless and unnecessary'. She added that her remarks were taken 'completely out of context'.

Former UKIP leadership candidate Ben Walker has called for Bolton to resign from his position, accusing him of having 'deeply flawed judgement', Sky News reports. The party's National Executive Committee is due to meet to discuss Bolton's future at the party this Sunday.