UKIP leader in hot seat over girlfriend's comments about Princess-to-be Meghan Markle

LONDON, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A leader of a British right-wing political party, Henry Bolton, is urged by senior figures from his party to choose between his leadership or girlfriend after the latter was reported by British media Sunday to have made racist remarks.

Model Jo Marney, 25, is the girlfriend of Bolton, who last September was elected leader of a Euroskeptic and right-wing populist political party, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

According to British conservative newspaper the Mail on Sunday, Marney had sent a series of messages to a friend, in which she made offensive comments about Prince Harry's bride-to-be Meghan Markle and black people, saying that Markle will "taint" the Royal Family with "her seed" and pave the way for a "black king."

Marney later issued a statement to the newspaper and said she apologized "unreservedly" for the "shocking language" used in the messages.

UKIP chairman Paul Oakden, 54, said he decided to suspend Marney's party membership immediately upon learning about the messages.

Oakden told the Mail on Sunday "UKIP does not, has not and never will condone racism."

Peter Whittle, the leader of the UKIP delegation in the London assembly, called for Marney to be "expelled altogether" for the "disgraceful remarks."

Meanwhile, British media reported former UKIP leadership candidate Ben Walker called for Bolton to resign, accusing him of having deeply flawed judgment.

Bill Etheridge, who sits in the European Parliament as a UKIP MEP, also called for Bolton's resignation on Twitter.

Prince Harry and Markle are to marry in May, after which Markle will officially become a princess and a working member of the British Royal Family. Their engagement has been fully supported by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry's grandmother. Enditem