THE leader of Bolton's UKIP group has distanced himself from the English Defence League founder who has been increasingly linked with the party.

Cllr Sean Hornby said Tommy Robinson was the only reason he did not attend the Brexit Betrayal March organised by the party in London on Sunday.

The councillor has written on more than one occasion UKIP chiefs to make his concerns about the controversial figure known.

Cllr Hornby said: "I wasn't there for one reason, because Tommy Robinson was there.

I'm in the process of expressing concerns to our leader. The fact he's associated with Tommy Robinson is not good."

He added: "He attracts the wrong kind of people to the party, he has some very radical views.

"I don't necessarily disagree with everything but it's the way he says it, he's inciting hatred and I'm sorry but the one thing I'm not is a racist."

Former leaders Nigel Farage and Paul Nuttall MEP have both quit the party since Mr Robinson's involvement was announced along with other leader UKIP figures. 

Mr Robinson founded the EDL and hit headlines this year when he was jailed for contempt of court in May but later freed on appeal.

In a message to members at the beginning of the month, UKIP chairman Kristan Herriot said: "The party does not endorse the appointment of Tommy Robinson in any advisory role. He is not a UKIP member and through his associations he is barred from joining UKIP."

A look at UKIP's Twitter shows no mention of Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, being present at the rally at the weekend. Despite media coverage of the event focusing on Mr Robinson leading the march through Westminster.

Cllr Hornby showed The Bolton News a letter he had written to the 12 members of UKIP's national executive committee (NEC). He called on them to "reject the far-right extreme line the party is attempting to take and bring our leader into line".

At present Mr Robinson is a privately-appointed adviser to the party's leader Gerard Batten MEP.

Cllr Hornby levelled criticism at his party's leader, comparing his relationships with previous leaders.

He said: "I've always had a good relationship with all the party leaders. Nigel Farage always had the time, Paul Nuttall our MEP also responded and was courteous, even Henry Bolton ­— I always got on very well with him.

"This guy doesn't even answer your emails."

Though he acknowledged: "He's brought more membership in."

In a letter to Mr Batten, Cllr Hornby reminded him of the previously strong support for the party in the region and the delicate position the Labour Council is in, holding 30 seats, against a total opposition of 30.

He wrote: "This party has spent too much time talking about Tommy Robinson and your current agenda. The main stream media are not interested in what our party stands for."