The UK Independence Party is set to hold an emergency general meeting following a National Executive Committee vote of no confidence in its scandal-rocked leader Henry Bolton.

A statement from the party reads:

In an emergency meeting of the UKIP National Executive today, a discussion took place on recent press coverage of the party leader, Henry Bolton.

Having heard a statement from Mr Bolton, the NEC asked a number of questions pertaining to that coverage. At the conclusion of that discussion, the committee took the decision to hold a vote of no confidence in the Leadership of Henry Bolton.

The vote was carried unanimously with the exception of the Leader.

This decision will automatically trigger an EGM of the party, to allow the membership of UKIP the democratic opportunity to decide to endorse or reject that vote of no confidence. The party is required to hold such an EGM within 28 days of today’s date unless Henry Bolton resigns in the meantime.

Members will be written to in the next ten days to give details of where and when the EGM will take place.