Key facts
- Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist convicted of harassment, was selected as a Conservative candidate for a local election in Somerset.
- Bonehill-Paine later withdrew his candidacy and was appointed as an adviser to the Conservative party’s culture and integration commission.
- Kemi Badenoch defended her decision, stating that people who have changed should not be 'cancelled' and that the Conservative party is different.
- Critics argue Badenoch's actions raise questions about the Conservative party's strategy and direction, particularly in light of recent purges of centrist members.
- The Conservative party lost significant ground in recent local elections and faces challenges in regaining voter trust and support.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative party, has faced significant criticism this week following the selection and subsequent appointment of Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist convicted of harassment, as an adviser. Bonehill-Paine was initially selected as a candidate for a local election in Somerset but withdrew after being asked to serve on the party’s culture and integration commission, focusing on youth radicalization.
Badenoch defended her decision, stating that individuals who have changed should not be 'cancelled' and that the Conservative party under her leadership is distinct. This stance has drawn criticism from opponents, including Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, and has also caused concern among some within her own party, particularly following recent purges of centrist members and those supporting net zero targets or the European convention on human rights.
The controversy comes at a critical juncture for the Conservatives, who suffered significant losses in recent local elections and are polling behind Reform UK and Labour. Some within the party express delight at Badenoch's assertive, rightward shift, believing it clarifies the party's identity, while others worry about its electoral implications and the erosion of its centrist base. Pollster John Curtice noted the party's dilemma in choosing between consolidating its remaining centrist support or attempting to win back voters who have shifted to Reform UK.
Badenoch also announced a policy to evict foreign nationals with leave to remain from social housing, a move criticized by homelessness charities and Reform UK for potentially increasing homelessness and copying their policy. Despite internal concerns, some MPs report that Badenoch's direction is resonating well with the party's rank and file.