UK Independence Party leader Henry Bolton speaks to the media after he lost the party leadership as party members backed a no confidence motion during a party Extraordinary General Meeting in Birmingham. Aaron Chown/ PA via AP
UK Independence Party leader Henry Bolton speaks to the media after he lost the party leadership as party members backed a no confidence motion during a party Extraordinary General Meeting in BirminghShow more

Europe

UK party sacks leader in fallout from racist Meghan Markle texts

UKIP party leader had faced growing pressure to resign over offensive text messages sent by his girlfriend

Associated Press

February 18, 2018

The troubled UK Independence Party has ousted its leader after a scandal over racist messages sent by his girlfriend.

Party members voted on Saturday to back a motion of no confidence in Henry Bolton. The UKIP party leader had faced growing pressure to resign since a newspaper in mid-January published racist text messages about Prince Harry's fiancee, Meghan Markle, sent by his girlfriend, 25-year-old Jo Marney.

Ms Marney, who was also a UKIP member, was suspended immediately.

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The right-wing, Eurosceptic party played a key role in campaigning for Britain's decision to leave the European Union but it has struggled to maintain its prominence and failed to win any parliamentary seats during last year's election.

Mr Bolton was its fourth leader since 2016, and the sacking puts the party in further uncertainty.

Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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