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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/16/ukip-leader-scrutiny-of-my-love-life-is-same-as-princess-diana-suffered
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ukip leader: Scrutiny of my love life is same as Princess Diana suffered | Ukip leader: Scrutiny of my love life is same as Princess Diana suffered |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As Henry Bolton faces vote of no confidence, he hits out at media coverage of marriage break-up | As Henry Bolton faces vote of no confidence, he hits out at media coverage of marriage break-up |
| Nicola Slawson | Nicola Slawson |
| Fri 16 Feb 2018 23.23 GMT | Fri 16 Feb 2018 23.23 GMT |
| Last modified on Fri 16 Feb 2018 23.48 GMT | |
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| Embattled Ukip leader Henry Bolton has compared the scrutiny of his relationships to that faced by Diana, Princess of Wales, before she died. | |
| On Saturday an extraordinary general meeting will be held which could result in a vote of no confidence in Bolton, who is under fire after his partner apparently sent racist messages about Prince Harry’s fiancee, Meghan Markle. | |
| Despite breaking up with Jo Marney over the messages, Bolton has been clinging on to the leadership after 15 senior figures in the party resigned in protest in January over the fact that he had remained in post. | Despite breaking up with Jo Marney over the messages, Bolton has been clinging on to the leadership after 15 senior figures in the party resigned in protest in January over the fact that he had remained in post. |
| In the run-up to the vote, Bolton has hit out at the media interest in his private life following the breakdown of his marriage to Tatiana Smurova, which he said was on par with the Profumo affair and Diana’s relationship with Dodi Fayed. | In the run-up to the vote, Bolton has hit out at the media interest in his private life following the breakdown of his marriage to Tatiana Smurova, which he said was on par with the Profumo affair and Diana’s relationship with Dodi Fayed. |
| He said: “The only people that are truly affected by that are my wife and children, and I feel deeply, deeply sad for what pain and hurt I’ve caused them but it’s a private matter and it needs to be dealt with privately. | He said: “The only people that are truly affected by that are my wife and children, and I feel deeply, deeply sad for what pain and hurt I’ve caused them but it’s a private matter and it needs to be dealt with privately. |
| “I understand the scrutiny and public interest but it’s been going on for six weeks. There’s probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi.” | “I understand the scrutiny and public interest but it’s been going on for six weeks. There’s probably been nothing like that since the Profumo affair or Diana and Dodi.” |
| He told Sky News: “It’s been an experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy ... in hindsight I would have probably dealt with certain personal elements of it in a different way.” | He told Sky News: “It’s been an experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy ... in hindsight I would have probably dealt with certain personal elements of it in a different way.” |
| The Ukip leader, who has defended his decision not to stand down, saying that the party cannot handle another leadership contest and that its constitution needs a complete overhaul, claimed he was the victim of rivals “stirring the pot”. | The Ukip leader, who has defended his decision not to stand down, saying that the party cannot handle another leadership contest and that its constitution needs a complete overhaul, claimed he was the victim of rivals “stirring the pot”. |
| He claimed those who complained about his new relationship were “failed leadership contenders” who had seen an opportunity to “go in for the kill”. | He claimed those who complained about his new relationship were “failed leadership contenders” who had seen an opportunity to “go in for the kill”. |
| He added that if they were truly dedicated to the party, they would have stayed at their posts. | He added that if they were truly dedicated to the party, they would have stayed at their posts. |
| The party is facing financial ruin after a judge ruled Ukip must contribute towards a £660,000 legal bill following a defamation action brought against one of its MEPs by three Labour MPs. | |
| UK Independence party (Ukip) | UK Independence party (Ukip) |
| Diana, Princess of Wales | Diana, Princess of Wales |
| Monarchy | Monarchy |
| Relationships | Relationships |
| Divorce | Divorce |
| news | news |
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