Crisis-hit UKIP Decides Fate Of Latest Leader
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published February 17, 2018 | 05:25 PM
Members of Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) will decide Saturday whether to keep their latest leader following pressure over his private life that he compared to the scrutiny of Princess Diana
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :Members of Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) will decide Saturday whether to keep their latest leader following pressure over his private life that he compared to the scrutiny of Princess Diana.
Henry Bolton, who was elected in September, has refused to quit despite a vote of no confidence by UKIP's ruling committee, and party members will now decide his fate. Under the former leadership of Nigel Farage, the anti-immigration party was instrumental in the 2016 vote for Brexit, but has since been dogged by in-fighting, financial woes and falling public support.
Bolton, a former army officer, is the third elected leader since Farage stepped down and has vowed major reform of the party. However, he risked derision by comparing the scrutiny over his private life to that of Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed, in the weeks before they died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
"I understand the scrutiny and public interest but it's been going on for six weeks. There's probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi," he told Sky news television.
John Profumo was forced to resign as war minister in 1963 after having an affair with a woman who was also involved with a Russian diplomat, in a scandal that almost brought down the government.
The challenge to Bolton's leadership came after he left his wife and began an affair with a young UKIP activist, who was subsequently exposed for sending racist messages about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle.
Bolton has ended the relationship but a string of senior UKIP politicians resigned over his leadership, warning the situation had become "almost farcical". At an extraordinary general meeting in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday, UKIP members will decide whether to endorse last month's no confidence vote by UKIP's national executive committee.
If they support the move, UKIP will face another leadership election -- and Bolton has not ruled out standing again. UKIP won significant public support for its eurosceptic stance in the years running up to the EU referendum, but the vote for Brexit has left it struggling to find a role.
It has also been dogged by financial problems, and this week a court ruled the party was liable for some costs in a defamation case against one of its members of the European Parliament. Bolton has previously warned that UKIP cannot afford a new leadership contest, whether financially or politically.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
More Stories From World
-
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
13 minutes ago -
Golf: PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
23 minutes ago -
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
6 hours ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
6 hours ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
7 hours ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
7 hours ago
-
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
8 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
8 hours ago -
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
9 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
9 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
9 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
9 hours ago