Ex neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine selected as Tory candidate

A former Neo-Nazi activist who served time in prison is set to stand as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming council elections, having been given what the party describes as a “second chance.” Joshua Bonehill-Paine was imprisoned for three years after distributing antisemitic content linked to a planned neo-Nazi rally. A year after his release, he was also found guilty of racially harassing former Labour MP Luciana Berger. Despite this history, he has now been selected to contest the new Somerset Council seat of Crewkerne South in 2027, stating his motivation is to “give back” to the community that supported him.

Bonehill-Paine, known for creating the online satirical project The Crewkerne Gazette, carries a criminal record that includes assaulting a police officer, burglary targeting a police station, and malicious communications. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch defended his candidacy, emphasizing that he has “shown contrition for his crimes.” Badenoch pointed out, “He is spending every day working to solve the very problem which he knew he had caused previously. He’s going up and down the country training people and the Conservative Party believes in second chances. This is not just someone that we’ve picked up who is a convicted criminal – this is somebody who is actively working to help communities, especially Jewish communities.”

In reflecting on his past, Bonehill-Paine described his previous views as “indefensible.” He recounted that after being released from prison in 2018, many local residents supported him, understanding that he had made “some awful mistakes” but wished to turn his life around. His decision to reject extremist views was profoundly influenced during his prison sentence by the murder of MP Jo Cox, which he described as evoking “an enormous sense of emotion – of grief and of anger.” He said, “This was a mother, a wife, who had been viciously murdered in cold blood and I started to question why it was that I was supporting a right-wing ideology.” Following this realization, he underwent a de-radicalization program and now conducts counter-extremism sessions throughout the UK.

However, Bonehill-Paine’s selection has met significant criticism. Karen Newman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, condemned the decision, stating it “beggars belief” and revealed that her organization has urged the Conservative Party to reconsider his candidacy and improve their vetting procedures. Adam Dance, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, which includes Crewkerne, said, “Residents deserve to feel confident in those seeking to represent them,” adding, “Public service is built on trust and elected representatives have a responsibility to bring communities together and uphold the highest standards in public life. It is now for the Conservative Party to explain why it believes this candidate is fit to serve.” Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, questioned whether Bonehill-Paine represents part of the “new generation” of Tory candidates promised by Kemi Badenoch. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Labour Party described the selection as “a total disgrace,” further accusing the Conservatives of becoming “more extreme and more out of touch with Britain” under Badenoch’s leadership

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