Westminster as it happened: Ukip's Henry Bolton refuses to resign despite mass resignations
All the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Ukip was hit with fresh turmoil after leader Henry Bolton refused to quit, despite mass resignations and a vote of no confidence from his party’s governing body.
Mr Bolton - who has led the party since October - has been in the spotlight due to his relationship with Jo Marney, who allegedly sent a string of racist texts about Meghan Markle.
Theresa May also came under intense criticism from her backbenchers over her slow response to a cross-party proposals on the future of NHS and social care spending.
The Prime Minister’s delayed response to the letter from 90 cross-party MPs was criticised as “disappointing” by one Tory MP, while another added: “This response lacks ambition”.
See below for the latest updates:
William Dartmouth has said that he is quitting as Ukip's trade and industry spokesman.
In his resignation letter to Mr Bolton, he said: "The NEC (national executive committee) as well as colleagues on the London and Welsh assemblies and fellow MEPs have all urged you to stand down as party leader with immediate effect.
"Your position is untenable. I am unable to serve under you."
This is a statement from Mike Hookem, the Ukip MEP, who has just stepped down as assistant to the deputy leader.
Although I did not make it public at the time, I resigned my position as Assistant Deputy Leader of UKIP on Friday morning, both verbally and in writing.
I kept this private, as I had no-intention of pre-empting the decision of the NEC and also to give Mr Bolton the opportunity to do the honourable thing and resign.
Rather than media reports being focused on the hard work of the party and our members in fighting for Brexit, the story has become about the leader’s personal life.
This is unfair to all those who have put so much time, effort and money into our party.
Therefore, following the NEC’s meeting and their vote of no confidence in our leader, I now urge Mr Bolton to stand down as a matter of priority, for the good of the party and the grassroots membership.
This would give Mr Bolton a chance to deal with his personal life, away from the media glare; and for UKIP to get back to its aim of fighting for a real Brexit.
I will be no further comment at this time.
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