The leader of the anti-immigration U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) announced on Monday he had ended his relationship after his girlfriend reportedly made racist remarks about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle.
Henry Bolton said he ended his brief liaison with 25-year-old Jo Marney after the Mailon Sunday newspaper published what he described as “appalling and insulting” text messages she reportedly sent.
“I don’t defend these comments whatsoever... As of last night the romantic side of our relationship is ended,” he told ITV television.
Mr. Bolton, who took up the UKIP leadership in September, said Ms. Marney had been suspended from the party.
He is under pressure to resign over his liaison.
‘Black King;
According to the Mailon Sunday , she wrote messages to a friend complaining that Ms. Markle — an American actress of mixed race who is due to marry Prince Harry in May — would “taint our royal family” with her “seed”.
“Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black King,” she was reported to have written.
In a statement, Ms. Marney said her remarks were “deliberately exaggerated to make a point” and were taken out of context, but “I fully recognise the offence they have caused”.
Mr. Bolton had already made headlines this month over his decision to end his marriage and start dating Ms. Marney. He has resisted widespread calls to resign as UKIP’s third elected leader since Nigel Farage stepped down in the wake of Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union.
The party has struggled to find a role since the Brexit referendum and has been beset by infighting.
