Ukip leader Henry Bolton will learn today if he is to keep his job as party members gather for a crunch meeting to determine his fate.

The party’s extraordinary general meeting follows a vote of no confidence in him by the party’s National Executive Committee.

That vote followed revelations about his private life and his relationship with Jo Marney, a glamour model from Maidstone.

Mr Bolton, who lives in Folkestone, faced criticism over the relationship which attracted even more attention when it emerged she had posted racist comments and said the Royal Family would be tainted by Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle.

The leader broke off the relationship saying the comments were indefensible but he has continued to be seen with her and has sidestepped questions about whether he intends to resume the relationship should he lose.

Speaking before today’s meeting, Mr Bolton was optimistic about his chances and warned the party had to decide whether it wanted to be a professional political party or a protest movement.

“I am not a betting man but it is going to be close. It is a decision about what sort of party the members want it to be.

"The choice is whether there should be a rational restructuring of the party which the NEC does not appear to want.”

Asked what he would do if he lost, he said he had “three options” but declined to elaborate and did not answer when asked if one was to set up an alternative party.

While his prospects of surviving are difficult to anticipate he has received the backing of Nigel Farage.

In an intervention that could prove influential, he said the party was close to collapse but that Mr Bolton was the right person to lead the party out of his difficulties.

Acknowledging that his relationship had caused “deep consternation in Ukip circles” Mr Farage said Mr Bolton “can put the party onto a professional campaign footing.”

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: “The basic structures of the party organisation are disappearing; branches are closing; and many of the sitting councillors in the forthcoming spring elections wish to run as independents.”

The meeting is taking place in Birmingham and a result is due to be announced later this afternoon.