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# Bill Ethridge resigns from UKIP and calls for Henry Bolton's resignation
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/bill-ethridge-resigns-from-ukip-and-calls-for-henry-boltons-resignation/
- Published: 2018-01-15T16:31:51.000Z
- Updated: 2018-01-15T16:31:51.000Z
- Author: Birmingham Eastside
- Tags: News, Politics, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Bill-e1516116491354.jpg)

Twitter photos

UKIP Spokesman and West Midlands MEP Bill Ethridge resigned today, following controversy over racist remarks by the UKIP leader's partner.

[The Mail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5266657/Ukip-leaders-girlfriends-racist-Meghan-Markle-messages.html?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) 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](https://twitter.com/hashtag/UKIP?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) members to petition the NEC for his removal
> 
> — Bill Etheridge (@Billukip) [January 15, 2018](https://twitter.com/Billukip/status/952867893586419713?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)

Despite the pressure Mr. Bolton is facing, he said had no intention of resigning as party leader.