UKIP Spokesman and West Midlands MEP Bill Ethridge resigned today, following controversy over racist remarks by the UKIP leader’s partner.
The Mail on Sunday published messages from UKIP leader Henry Bolton’s girlfriend, Jo Marney, who described black people as “ugly” and said Ms. Markle would “taint” the Royal family.
They included texts that said, “This is Britain, not Africa” during a discussion about the royal engagement, as well as repeated use of the word “negro”.
The party leader Mr. Bolton announced that he had ended the relationship in order to avoid controversy.
Mr. Etheridge announced his resignation on Twitter and called for UKIP members to remove Bolton from his position.
I am resigning as a member of Henry Bolton’s spokesman team and calling for #UKIP members to petition the NEC for his removal
— Bill Etheridge (@Billukip) January 15, 2018
Despite the pressure Mr. Bolton is facing, he said had no intention of resigning as party leader.
