A close Kent ally of the embattled Ukip leader Henry Bolton has quit the party in protest at his behaviour.

The Shepway councillor Susie Govett, who acted as Henry Bolton's press aide during the UKIP leadership campaign, has announced to colleagues she is to sit as an independent.

Susie Govett has been highly critical of Mr Bolton and his conduct over a relationship with 25-year-old glamour model Jo Marney, from Maidstone.

She has posted a series of disapproving comments on social media since the revelations first emerged. Just two days ago she tweeted: “It’s now time to go Henry!”

Earlier in the week, she tweeted: “Where is the public apology to @UKIP members, councillors, supporters and family of @_HenryBolton?”

She was a close ally of Mr Bolton and was also his campaign manager when he stood as the party’s candidate in the Kent crime commissioner election.

However, she has not concealed her disenchantment over events and is understood to feel she can no longer support him as leader because of his behaviour and because she feels he has misled the party.

She has told her colleagues that she intends to sit as an independent councillor for New Romney ward for the rest of her term on the council.

Mr Bolton faces an investigation into his behaviour at a meeting of the party's national executive committee this weekend.

It is likely that he could face a vote of no confidence which would plunge the party into another leadership contest.

He has insisted that he will not stand aside as leader but is facing fresh claims that despite saying that he had broken off his relationship he is continuing to see the 25-year-old.

The pair were spotted together dining at a restaurant In London and were also seen on a train together travelling to Folkestone.

Ms Marney was suspended from the party after disclosures that she had posted a series of racist tweets and suggested that the Royal Family could be tainted by Prince Harry's marriage to the actress Meghan Markle.