Henry Bolton (British politician)

A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (September 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Henry Bolton OBE
Bolton speaking at Save Our Services campaign in London in 2017
Leader of the UK Independence Party
In office 29 September 2017 – 17 February 2018
Deputy	Margot Parker
Preceded by	Paul Nuttall
Succeeded by	Gerard Batten
UKIP Spokesperson for Defence
In office 15 January 2018 – 17 February 2018
Preceded by	Bill Etheridge
Succeeded by	Ray Finch
Personal details
Born	Henry David Bolton (1963-03-02) 2 March 1963 (age 61) Nairobi, Kenya Colony
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Our Nation (2018–2019) UK Independence Party (2014–2018) Liberal Democrats (1999–2014)
Spouses	Karin Dohn ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 1987)​ Lidia Gouniakova ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2007)​ Tatiana Smurova ​ ​ (m. 2006; div. 2018)​
Children	3
Education	Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - TA commissioning course (2 weeks)
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1979–2000
Rank	Captain
Service number	540249
Awards	OBE NATO Bosnia Campaign Medal United Nations Kosovo Mission Medal Civilian Afghanistan Service Medal

Henry David Bolton OBE (born 2 March 1963) is a former British politician who was the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 29 September 2017 to 17 February 2018. He served in the British Army, attaining the rank of lance corporal, and went on to reach the rank of captain following his transfer to the Territorial Army from the Regular Army. Bolton has also served as a police officer.

Bolton became UKIP leader after winning the party's 2017 leadership election, and gave himself the additional role of Defence spokesman in January 2018. Bolton was removed as party leader in February 2018, following his relationship with a party member, and an ensuing controversy caused over racist comments she had made to a friend about Prince Harry's fiancée, Meghan Markle. Bolton's departure triggered UKIP's fourth leadership election in eighteen months. He subsequently announced plans to establish a new political party, to be called OneNation, that would adopt a Eurosceptic stance like UKIP. The party, under the name Our Nation, was registered with the Electoral Commission on 31 October 2018, but de-registered on 4 November 2019.