A former neo‑Nazi activist who was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP has withdrawn from standing as a Conservative candidate after his selection provoked strong criticism from Jewish organisations and others.
Withdrawal follows intense backlash
Joshua Bonehill‑Paine said he would not contest next year’s local elections in Somerset after being selected for the new Crewkerne South district. The decision came after an outcry that included interventions from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.
In a post on X, Bonehill‑Paine said he had decided his “experience is better used supporting Kemi Badenoch in her ongoing mission to combat the antisemitism and extremism that is dividing our nation.”
“If we are going to stop extremism and antisemitism, we are going to need help from those people who were part of the problem, but have now changed and are being part of the solution.”
The comment was attributed to the Conservative Party leader, who said she was “sad” that Bonehill‑Paine felt he would not be allowed “the space to explain his position and represent his community.” According to public statements, Ms Badenoch offered him a role advising the party’s culture and integration commission with a focus on how young men become radicalised.
Past convictions and abuse of a Jewish MP
Bonehill‑Paine has a criminal record related to extremist activity. In 2015 he was jailed for more than three years after posting antisemitic material online in advance of a planned neo‑Nazi rally. The following year, 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abusive conduct targeted at the then Labour MP Luciana Berger, who is Jewish.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Imprisoned for over three years for posting antisemitic material online |
| 2016 | Found guilty of racially aggravated harassment of MP Luciana Berger |
The selection had already prompted approaches from Jewish organisations seeking a meeting with the Conservative Party; both the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council declined the party’s offer to meet with Bonehill‑Paine.
Political and procedural consequences
The incident places the party’s candidate selection processes under renewed scrutiny and raises questions about how individuals with past extremism convictions can be integrated into political life. The leader’s suggestion that former extremists who have changed can assist in tackling radicalisation will be tested by the reaction from affected communities and political opponents.
- Community reaction: Jewish groups publicly objected to the selection and refused a proposed meeting with the activist.
- Party response: The leader publicly defended using reformed individuals in advisory roles, while the candidate withdrew from the ballot.
- Wider implications: The episode feeds into ongoing debates about extremism, rehabilitation and political rehabilitation.
Luciana Berger, now a member of the House of Lords, had earlier intervened in the controversy; she was the target of Bonehill‑Paine’s campaign of abuse when he was active in neo‑Nazi circles.
While Bonehill‑Paine framed his withdrawal as a shift from electoral politics to advisory work on radicalisation, the refusal of key Jewish organisations to engage indicates the reputational and practical hurdles such a transition faces. The Conservative leadership will need to weigh those barriers carefully if it pursues input from individuals with extremist pasts as part of counter‑extremism efforts.
The episode is likely to prompt further questions in Westminster about the rigour of candidate vetting and the advisability of offering formal roles to controversial figures, particularly where victims and community bodies have explicitly declined engagement.
