Joshua Bonehill-Paine, previously convicted in 2015 for posting antisemitic material and racially aggravated harassment of Labour MP Luciana Berger, was selected as a Conservative candidate for the 2027 Somerset local council election and served as an executive member of the Yeovil Tory branch [1, 2, 3, 4]. Berger strongly opposed his candidacy, saying, "I don’t believe this man should have any role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women," and cited the lasting trauma caused by his abuse [1].
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended Bonehill-Paine’s selection, saying he had shown contrition and rehabilitation by working daily on counter-extremism and antisemitism issues, including training others and producing the satirical AI-driven online series Crewkerne Gazette [1, 2, 4]. Badenoch told BBC Radio 4 she worries that barring him denies belief in rehabilitation, noting, "If we can’t have the people who have previously been radicalised... as part of the fight against antisemitism now, then how can we pretend we believe in rehabilitation?" [2]
However, Berger and Jewish groups like the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council rejected outreach by the Conservatives and urged Bonehill-Paine's withdrawal, citing his past offences and impact on victims [3, 5]. Berger emphasized there is a "big difference between going back into society" and teaching others versus "making the leap to standing for public office" [2].
Bonehill-Paine also has convictions for assaulting a police officer and burglary, further complicating his public profile [2]. On August 5, he announced his withdrawal from the election candidacy and accepted an advisory role to Badenoch focused on radicalisation among young men, stating, "Rather than standing as a local council candidate, I believe that my experience is better used supporting Kemi Badenoch in her ongoing mission to combat antisemitism and extremism that is dividing our nation." [3, 6]
Badenoch drew a distinction between candidacies for local council and Parliament, saying higher thresholds apply for parliamentary candidates and defending her decision to involve Bonehill-Paine in advisory work [2, 5]. The controversy and debate over his advisory role continued after his withdrawal, highlighting divisions within the party and its community partners regarding rehabilitation and public office [6].
Bonehill-Paine’s convictions date back to 2015 when he was jailed for more than three years for antisemitic offences related to neo-Nazi activities and harassment of Berger [1, 3, 4, 5]. Berger’s public call for him to be dropped came on August 4, followed by Badenoch’s defence and Bonehill-Paine’s withdrawal the next day [1, 2, 3].
