Joshua Bonehill-Paine has withdrawn his candidacy for a Conservative council seat in Somerset after facing significant backlash from Jewish groups due to his past neo-Nazi activities and convictions for racist harassment. Bonehill-Paine was selected to contest the Crewkerne South ward for the Conservatives in the upcoming May elections.
He announced his withdrawal on social media, stating his need to "show the Jewish community how much I regret my previous actions." Bonehill-Paine was previously jailed in 2016 after being convicted of racially aggravated harassment against Baroness Luciana Berger, who is Jewish. At the time, he wrote blog posts targeting Baroness Berger, describing her with derogatory terms and suggesting the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a "problem."
Bonehill-Paine had also been jailed for producing an advertisement for a neo-Nazi rally that depicted a picture of Auschwitz concentration camp with the phrase "an absolute gas."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who had initially defended Bonehill-Paine's candidacy, expressed sadness that he would not have the opportunity to "explain his position and represent his community." Badenoch stated that Bonehill-Paine would now collaborate with the Conservatives on tackling radicalization within the party's culture and integration commission. She suggested that individuals who were formerly part of the problem but have since changed could aid in combating extremism and anti-Semitism.
Bonehill-Paine himself posted on X, acknowledging the pain his past actions caused the Jewish community and expressing a desire to demonstrate his change and willingness to contribute positively. He indicated that Kemi Badenoch had offered him an advisory role on the commission, focusing on how young men become radicalized.
Reform UK criticized Badenoch's decision to offer Bonehill-Paine an advisory role, calling it "alarming news for the Jewish community in Britain."
Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance commented that while Bonehill-Paine's withdrawal was the correct outcome, the situation should not have escalated to that point. He criticized Badenoch's response for framing concerns about anti-Semitism as "piling on."
Baroness Berger and Jewish organizations had urged the Conservatives to reconsider the selection. Badenoch had previously defended the decision, citing Bonehill-Paine's rehabilitation, including his certification by the Home Office to train police officers on anti-Semitism and counter-extremism. She argued that excluding individuals who have undergone rehabilitation hinders efforts to combat anti-Semitism.
Badenoch distinguished between standing as a local council candidate and being a prospective Member of Parliament, stating that a local role was a "local platform looking at parking, sorting out bins," which she considered to have lower thresholds than national political office.
Baroness Berger countered that there is a significant difference between educating others about past wrongs and seeking public office, emphasizing Bonehill-Paine's sustained campaign of abuse. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council declined to meet Bonehill-Paine but agreed to discuss candidate selection processes with the Conservative Party.
Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust, acknowledged Badenoch's strong stance against anti-Semitism but suggested that while Bonehill-Paine might be suitable for warning against extremism, serving as a party representative and local councilor could be considered a step too far by many.
Lord Ian Austin, a former minister who left the Labour Party over anti-Semitism, stated that Bonehill-Paine should not have been selected and questioned the Home Office's involvement with him. He highlighted the severity of Bonehill-Paine's past actions and rhetoric.
Former Conservative minister Lord Michael Gove supported the idea of contrition, forgiveness, and rehabilitation, suggesting that past acknowledged errors should not preclude future public service. Green Party leader Zack Polanski also expressed belief in spaces for rehabilitation, regardless of the severity of past actions.
Bonehill-Paine is also known for creating the satirical website The Crewkerne Gazette, which features AI-generated videos of politicians. Reform UK has reported Bonehill-Paine to the Electoral Commission over his social media videos, questioning if they were published on behalf of the Conservatives.