Ukip official: I’m no predator

A senior Ukip official suspended over claims over sexual harassment has published a file of personal messages which he says show he was in a relationship with the high-profile election candidate concerned.

General secretary Roger Bird insisted he was not a “predator” and was confident a full party inquiry would clear his name.

The claims of impropriety were made by Natasha Bolter, who says she felt pressured to sleep with the man overseeing candidate approvals in order to further her potential career in the eurosceptic outfit.