Henry Bolton, leader of the UK Independence Party, has been sacked after party members backed a no-confidence motion at their general meeting in Birmingham this Saturday. This news has come as a surprise to some who weren’t even sure UKIP were still alive and kicking.
Disgusted to hear that UKIP have voted to remove Henry Bolton as leader. Democracy means voting once and living with the decision forever. What part of Henry Bolton don't they understand? #BoltonMeansBolton
— Jonny Hibberd (@Jonnyhibberd) February 17, 2018
This is John Howsam, a 76-year-old former UKIP parliamentary candidate from Northampton. Asked if he really thinks MI6 have planted Henry Bolton to destroy UKIP he said "definitely. Absolutely" pic.twitter.com/YAQwpUZ2Oy
— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) February 17, 2018
BREAKING: Henry Bolton has been SACKED as UKIP leader by the membership. Party must now find its FIFTH leader in two years. Game over? 1,378 members voted – 867 against Bolton.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) February 17, 2018
Henry Bolton took over from acting leader Steve Crowther after Paul Nuttal quit following the general election results. Nuttal took over from Nigel Farage after his exit following the EU referendum results and has only been in post for five months.
The party have already announced an interim leader, Gerard Batten MEP. Batten, at the EGM said : “We have had many crises in UKIP and I think this one today was about whether we have a future or not. I believe you have made the best decision that you could in the circumstances.”
UKIP currently has no MPs and controls only one council in Britain. Following the last general election, which saw their vote share fall from 12.6% to 1.8%, many had thought that UKIP were finished. Bolton was the party’s fourth leader in 18 months.
There will be a fresh election at UKIP within 90 days and speculation has begun as to whether Farage will return. Farage has also hinted at a ‘momentum of the right’ party, which he may announce on Monday, as his old party becomes a sinking ship.
