A former MP has urged the Conservative leader to drop an election candidate previously jailed for a campaign of antisemitic abuse against her. Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, was selected for a Somerset council election.
The selection of a candidate with a history of neo-Nazi activity and antisemitic convictions raises significant questions about the Conservative party's vetting processes and its commitment to combating extremism and hate speech.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist with multiple convictions including racially aggravated harassment, has been selected as a Conservative candidate for a Somerset council election. The selection has drawn significant criticism, notably from former Labour MP Luciana Berger, who was a victim of his online abuse.
Berger has urged Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to drop Bonehill-Paine, detailing the severe nature of the abuse she endured, including deeply racist, misogynistic, and pornographic material published about her. She recounted the distress of giving evidence at the Old Bailey while six months pregnant.
Badenoch, however, defended the party's decision, stating that Bonehill-Paine has shown contrition, has been rehabilitated, and is actively involved in counter-extremism work, including training police officers on antisemitism. She emphasized the Conservative party's belief in second chances.
Despite Badenoch's defense, the Board of Deputies of British Jews has contacted the Conservative party to express its concerns and call for Bonehill-Paine's selection to be rescinded, questioning the vetting process. Bonehill-Paine's criminal record also includes convictions for assaulting a police officer and burglary, and he was jailed in 2015 for posting antisemitic material online. He has also shared evidence suggesting interest from the Reform UK party.
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