London, Jan 14 (AFP) The leader of Britain's anti-EU,anti-immigration UK Independence Party (UKIP) faced calls toresign today after his girlfriend reportedly made racistremarks about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle.
Henry Bolton, who was elected in September, said his 25-year-old partner Jo Marney had been suspended from the partyafter the text messages were published in the Mail on Sundaynewspaper.
But one party politician said she should have beenexpelled, while a UKIP member of the European Parliament saidit was time for the "inexperienced" leader to "go quietly".
According to the tabloid, Marney wrote messages to afriend complaining that Markle -- an American actress of mixedrace who is due to marry Harry in May -- would "taint ourroyal family" with her "seed".
"Next will be a Muslim PM (prime minister). And a blackking," she was reported to have written.
In a statement, Marney said her remarks were"deliberately exaggerated to make a point" and were taken outof context, but "I fully recognise the offence they havecaused".
Bolton is the third elected leader of UKIP since NigelFarage resigned after helping secure a vote to leave EuropeanUnion in June 2016, and the party has struggled to find arole.
UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said that Bolton, who recentlymade headlines due to his decision to leave his wife and dateMarney, had some "difficult decisions to make".
The party's governing board will meet next weekend andwill consult with the former army officer "if he is still theleader at that point", he told the BBC.
Oakden said the coming year would be "crucial" for Brexitnegotiations, adding: "We need to be behind our leader 100percent in taking that battle forward.
"Whether or not the party decides it willing to give thatsupport to Henry is for the party to decide."UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge said: "We are seeing UKIPresources used to defend Henry's private life.
"Henry does not have the experience, the political nousor advice to deal with the issues he faces.... He must go, hemust go quickly, he must go as quietly as possible."Peter Whittle, a UKIP member of the London Assembly,tweeted: "These are disgraceful remarks. This person shouldnot just be suspended from @UKIP but expelled altogether."(AFP)KIS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.