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As it happenedended

Westminster as it happened: Ukip's Henry Bolton refuses to resign despite mass resignations

All the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
,Lizzy Buchan
Monday 22 January 2018 04:59 EST
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Henry Bolton refuses to resign as UKIP party leader after vote of no confidence

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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:

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 15:26

More than a million elderly people could be going hungry in their own homes, a parliamentary report has warned.

A cross-party group of MPs and peers warned that malnutrition among the elderly was costing the NHS and social services £11.9 billion a year, with the bill set to surge to £15.7 billion by 2030.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group urged the Government to consider withdrawing Winter Fuel Payment from the richest pensioners to fund community projects which aim to ensure vulnerable older people eat at least one hot meal a day.

Labour chairman Frank Field said: "Hidden beneath the radar, there are malnourished older people in this country spending two or three months withering away in their own homes, with some entering hospital weighing five and a half stone with an infection, or following a fall, which keeps them there for several tortuous days, if not weeks.

"The elimination of malnutrition amongst older people is urgently required for the sake of the NHS, and social care services, but above all for purposes of humaneness.

"Hence our central recommendation in this report, for a series of innovative pilot schemes that feed and care for older people."

Margaret Willcox, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said it would be "extremely challenging" to provide individualised care for people at risk of malnutrition when the sector is already facing a £2 billion funding shortfall by 2020.

"Imposing a further duty on social care providers is the wrong approach," she said.

"The way forward is to deliver more personalised care, and that requires more resources, not more rules.

"Placing more duties on already-pressured social care staff to tackle one issue, rather than providing the funding needed to address the underlying care crisis, will hinder rather than help."

A Government spokesman said: "Malnutrition is a complex issue and most patients diagnosed in England have other serious health and social problems.

"We know better diagnosis and detection is key which is why we continue to train all health staff to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective treatment can be put into place.""We know better diagnosis and detection is key which is why we continue to train all health staff to spot the early warning signs of malnutrition so effective treatment can be put into place."

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 15:32

New Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey is answering an Urgent Question on pension scheme protection, after the PM proposed tougher rules for top bosses that line their pockets from pension pots.

It comes after the collapse of construction giant Carillion, which is believed to have a pensions black hole of up to £900m.

Labour's Debbie Abrahams accused the Government of "attempting to close the stable door after the horse has bolted" and says the "urgency has not been there".

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 15:45
Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 15:50

Speculation is mounting ahead of Ukip leader Henry Bolton's statement. Journalists have gathered outside his hotel in Folkestone - in scenes some are unkindly comparing to the famous sitcom Fawlty Towers.

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 15:58

Theresa May's meeting with Donald Trump could be under threat as the White House said Cabinet members will delay their departure for Davos amid the federal government shutdown.

Press spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said they will determine what to do "as the day goes on and as we see how the next couple of hours go." 

Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin is leading the delegation of Cabinet members and top aides and was scheduled to leave Monday. Mr Trump was planning to leave later in the week. 

Asked if Trump would attend if the government is still shutdown, Ms Sanders said: "I don't know that that's very likely. I wouldn't imagine it is." 

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 16:05

Latest - Henry Bolton has said he is "not resigning as party leader".

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 16:09

Henry Bolton is speaking to reporters now.

He says he "advised the NEC not to expose the party to financial and political costs" of another leadership contest.

Bolton says he will "not be resigning as party leader, I repeat, not resigning as party leader".

He says the NEC has "severely handicapped the party's process" and it has lost his confidence.

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 16:13

Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 16:15
Lizzy Buchan22 January 2018 16:25

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