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The Conservative Party has extended an invitation to Jewish organizations for a meeting with their council election candidate, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has a criminal history linked to neo-Nazi activism. Bonehill-Paine, chosen to contest a seat on Somerset Council in 2027, has faced intense criticism since his selection, yet Kemi Badenoch has publicly defended him, emphasizing the importance of offering him a second chance.
Bonehill-Paine has acknowledged that his previous views were “indefensible” and has since become an advocate against extremism. Despite this, the Board of Deputies of British Jews described his nomination as something that “beggars belief,” demanding the Conservative Party reconsider their choice. Following this backlash, the party reportedly invited the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council, and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis to meet with Bonehill-Paine directly to address their concerns.
The candidate’s past includes serving three years in prison for disseminating antisemitic content ahead of an intended neo-Nazi rally. Additionally, he was convicted of racially harassing former Labour MP Luciana Berger, now a member of the House of Lords. Bonehill-Paine’s criminal record also involves convictions for assaulting a police officer, burglary of a police station, and malicious communications. Upon his selection for the Crewkerne South seat, Bonehill-Paine stated his desire to “give back” to the community that supported him.
Luciana Berger condemned the decision on social media platform X, recalling the “reams of deeply racist, misogynistic and pornographic material” he had shared about her, a situation she said “still haunts” her. Berger expressed distress over commentators defending his selection, asserting clearly that she believes he should have no public office due to his racism and treatment of women, finishing her statement by addressing Badenoch directly: “You’ve got this very, very wrong.” Bonehill-Paine attributes his change of heart to learning about the murder of MP Jo Cox, after which he completed a deradicalization program and now provides counter-extremism training nationwide. Badenoch affirmed that he is actively working to resolve problems he previously contributed to and praised the Conservative Party’s commitment to second chances. The selection has also been criticized by other political figures, including Liberal Democrat MP Adam Dance and a spokesperson from the Labour Party, both demanding explanations or condemning the decision
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