Kemi Badenoch, a UK minister, has defended the decision to allow a former neo-Nazi, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, to stand as a Conservative council candidate. Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 for racially aggravated harassment against Baroness Luciana Berger, a Jewish former Labour MP. He had previously been imprisoned for producing an advert for a neo-Nazi rally that referenced Auschwitz.
Badenoch stated that she believes Bonehill-Paine has been rehabilitated, citing his work training police officers on anti-Semitism and extremism, and speaking in universities and schools. "This man is showing that he is more than contrite," Badenoch told BBC Radio 4, emphasizing that if individuals who have been radicalized cannot be part of the fight against anti-Semitism, it questions the belief in rehabilitation.
She acknowledged Bonehill-Paine's past actions were "appalling, abhorrent even" but differentiated between rehabilitation and forgiveness. "I can understand that she does not want to forgive this man. I might not if I had been his victim," she said regarding Baroness Berger's position.
Badenoch also drew a distinction between standing as a local council candidate and a prospective Member of Parliament, stating that a council role focuses on local issues like parking and waste management, and does not constitute a national platform. She indicated higher thresholds for candidates seeking parliamentary office.
Baroness Berger, however, expressed a strong disagreement, stating there is a significant difference between returning to society and teaching about past wrongs, and seeking public office. She described Bonehill-Paine's actions as a "sustained campaign" against her and others, not just isolated incidents. In a statement on X, she asserted, "I don't believe this man should have any role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women."
Karen Newman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, criticized the selection as almost unbelievable and stated the organization has contacted the Conservative Party to express concerns and call for the candidate's selection to be rescinded and vetting processes reviewed.
Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust, a charity focused on security matters for Jewish communities, acknowledged Badenoch's strong stance against anti-Semitism but stated that while Bonehill-Paine might be suitable to warn against extremism, serving as a party representative and local councillor would be considered a step too far by many.
Bonehill-Paine himself has stated he has no excuses for his past offenses and has since dedicated himself to challenging anti-Semitism. He is also known for a satirical website featuring AI-generated videos of politicians, which Badenoch described as "a sideshow" compared to his anti-extremism work.