Henry Bolton’s heartbroken wife has slammed the former Ukip leader after he claimed he could marry his disgraced girlfriend Jo Marney.
Mr Bolton, 54, was dramatically ejected from the leadership earlier this month after a scandal over his affair with Miss Marney.
He was sacked by party members despite claiming he had split from the 25-year-old when it emerged she had sent a series of racist messages.
But the pair have been seen out and about together since the vote at the extraordinary meeting earlier this month and he suggested they could get married.
Today, his wife Tatiana Smurova-Bolton, appeared on Good Morning Britain from Vienna to slam the former politician for walking out on his family.
Today, his wife Tatiana Smurova-Bolton, appeared on Good Morning Britain to slam the former politician for walking out on his family
Mr Bolton, 54, was dramatically ejected from the leadership earlier this month after a scandal over his affair with Miss Marney
She told the ITV show: ‘It was shocking, I could never have imagined my husband doing something like that to me and to our family.
‘I trusted him one hundred per cent. I supported him throughout the years…What happened to me at Christmas was so shocking to me, and so deeply hurtful, that I just couldn’t make any sense of what was going on.
‘It’s shocking – so shocking. He was sacrificing his family to politics.
‘Equally I believe someone who walks away from his family and betrays them and shows zero respect, is incredible.’
Ms Smurova-Bolton denied knowing anything about her husband’s extra-marital relationship and hit back his claims that their marriage was over before he courted Miss Marney.
She said: ‘He cancelled our trip to Russia and then he said he was leaving to go back to the UK. At no point did he say the relationship was over.
‘He met this woman on December 16 but he was back with me on December for our younger daughter’s Christmas party.
‘Only after this things got gradually worse. It wasn’t until then he was not the way he would normally be with me. He said it was just work. In reality, he was in touch with this woman.’
She told the ITV show: ‘It was shocking, I could never have imagined my husband doing something like that to me and to our family’
The former Army officer was toppled from the top job when party members decided to support a no confidence vote against him at a crunch meeting
Asked last week whether Mr Bolton and Miss Marney were in a relationship, he said: ‘That’s a yes.’
Pressed on whether there might be wedding bells in the future, the ex-army officer replied ‘perhaps’.
Mr Bolton is still married, having left his wife and children for the model and Ukip activist over Christmas.
The couple had repeatedly insisted the relationship was over after it emerged Ms Marney had sent a tirade of racist messages about Meghan Markle to a friend.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Bolton revealed he is considering launching legal action against against Ukip’s NEC over the way he has been treated.
The couple had repeatedly insisted the relationship was over after it emerged Ms Marney had sent a tirade of racist messages about Meghan Markle to a friend
Meanwhile, Miss Marney sent a series of tweets declaring her love for the father-of-three and hinting that they will pick their relationship back up.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘I love the bloke and that’s that. UKIP leader or dustman.
‘I may be many things but shallow isn’t one of them. We’ve stood by each other throughout this and I will continue to do so.’
They were spotted walking out in the rain last week in the wake of his axing.
Mr Bolton and Ms Marney were seen strolling together under a giant blue umbrella after she spent the night at his Folkestone apartment in Kent.
The couple were also spotted drinking red wine together at the Rose and Crown pub near Hyde Park.