Defiant Ukip leader Henry Bolton has confirmed he won’t be quitting as leader - despite facing a string of resignations of senior party members.

The embattled leader is in a fight for his political life after losing a vote of no confidence at a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the weekend.

Mr Bolton made a statement at a press conference in Folkestone this afternoon to reiterate his intention to continue as leader - despite more than half of his top team stepping down in protest.

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He told reporters that he had urged the NEC not to expose the party to the financial and political cost of removing him as leader and holding yet another leadership contest.

He said he instead advised them to focus on the party's unity and concentrate on issues including the local government election campaign and ensuring independence when Britain leaves the EU.

Mr Bolton said: "I respect the next steps in the constitutional process and will therefore not be resigning as party leader. I repeat I shall not be resigning as party leader."

He said over the next month he would be calling for the coordination and mobilisation of Leave campaigns, adding: "I am determined not to allow the NEC to distract the party away from participating forcefully in the independence debate."

He described the NEC as "unfit for purpose" - claiming it had lost the confidence of a large proportion of Ukip members - and called for "significant and urgent reform".

He added: "It is time to drain the swamp."

Earlier, Mr Bolton told website Westmonster: “I’m not standing down, I’m going to take this to an EGM (extraordinary general meeting) and follow the constitutional process. If the members vote me out that’s up to them.”

His uncompromising pledge threatens to trigger weeks of turmoil for the party which has been split over his leadership after revelations about his private life and relationship with model Jo Marney.

The under-fire leader, who is based in Folkestone, has faced a succession of senior figures announcing that they were quitting their jobs in protest at his refusal to stand down.

Deputy leader Margot Parker quit, saying Henry Bolton had left the party in "limbo" after refusing to step down as Ukip leader following his brief relationship with Jo Marney.

The party's immigration spokesman John Bickley has also stepped down. Mike Hookem, as well as David Kurten and Tim Aker also quit.

But a leading Kent Ukip figure said he would be standing by Mr Bolton.

Richard Palmer, a former Swale county councillor and Kent chairman of Ukip, said the leader deserved a chance to make his case for staying and that he was entitled to a private life.

“I still support him and Ukip and believe he is entitled to a private life. I believe in democracy, not kangaroo courts. We do not know what the evidence is against him.”

Yesterday NEC member Piers Wauchope, a former Tunbridge Wells councillor who was the party’s election candidate in North Thanet in 2015, said too much damage had been done.

Mr Wauchope said: “The general feeling [of the NEC] was that the damage that had been caused could not really be repaired. Now we have to have an EGM which is a cause of great concern.”

Mr Bolton has faced repeated calls to quit over offensive texts sent by his former girlfriend.

Under party rules, the vote of no confidence in Mr Bolton has to be put before an Extraordinary General Meeting of the party within 28 days.

Members will then be asked to vote to accept or reject the NEC decision.