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Who is Henry Bolton? Everything you need to know about UKIP's new leader

Henry Bolton, a former Lib Dem born in Kenya, is a far cry from UKIP's most famous face: a tweed-clad, pint-gulping Nigel Farage.

By Aubrey Allegretti, Political Reporter

Friday 29 September 2017 22:01, UK

Undated handout photo issued by Henry Bolton, who has been elected as the new leader of Ukip, with his wife Tatiana Smurova-Bolton, who gave birth to their baby daughter on the 3.43pm Southeastern service from Ashford International to St Pancras International on Sunday May 15, 2016.
Image: Henry Bolton trained as an officer at Sandhurst
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After a truly turbulent career, Henry Bolton has been propelled to the top of UKIP.

A relative outsider, the former Army officer picked up endorsements from other senior figures as they dropped out of the leadership race - .

But he is far from the tweed-wearing, pint-gulping image of the party's most famous face.

Mr. Henry Bolton from Folkestone is made an OBE by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 12, 2013. See PA story Royal Investitures. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire
Image: Mr Bolton was awarded an OBE in 2013

Mr Bolton was born in Kenya and moved to the UK to study at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - graduating as best overall cadet and serving in the Army as an officer and tank crewman.

He went on to work for the Foreign Office, UN and EU in "common defence and security policy" roles, his website says, before joining Thames Valley Police.

The 54-year-old also claims he was a French commando and is trained in "jungle warfare".

Henry Bolton, who has been elected as the new Ukip party leader, during a press conference during the Ukip National Conference at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 29, 2017. See PA story POLITICS Ukip. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Image: He stood against the now Chancellor in 2005

Mr Bolton got his first real taste of politics in 2005, when he stood for the Liberal Democrats against now Chancellor Philip Hammond.

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He came third in the Weybridge and Runnymede contest, getting 17.7% of the vote.

Mr Bolton did not join UKIP until 2014, but quickly made an impression by becoming its candidate in Kent in the 2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

File photo dated 11/03/2016 of Diane James (right), Nigel Farage (left) and Henry Bolton (centre) who has been elected as the new leader of Ukip, during the Launch of the UKIP Police and Crime Commissioner campaign outside the Home Office in London.
Image: Farage agreed to be Mr Bolton's 'political referee'

Mr Bolton claims on his website that he is an "expert in borders, security and foreign policy" and has been deployed to Ukraine, Kosovo and Libya.

He was also given an OBE by the Princess Royal for services to international security in 2013.

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New UKIP leader Henry Bolton delivers victory speech

Last year, his wife made headlines when she went into labour on a Southeastern train service from Ashford to London.

Tatiana Smurova-Bolton gave birth on platform 13 of the St Pancras, a UKIP spokesperson confirmed, and the couple subsequently named their daughter Victoria.

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