Controversial candidate steps down ahead of local elections
A former far-right activist with multiple convictions, including for harassing a Jewish MP, has withdrawn as a Conservative candidate for the upcoming local elections amid public backlash, reports BritPanorama.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine acknowledged that “my previous actions continue to cause pain in the Jewish community.” He expressed concern that his candidacy would distract from the political issues at hand, asserting, “if I stand as a council candidate, other political parties will spend all their time focusing on my past rather than the work I’m doing today, or even fighting antisemitism in their own midst.”
Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, announced his decision to step down and instead support Kemi Badenoch in her efforts against antisemitism and extremism within the community. He stated, “I believe that my experience is better used supporting Kemi Badenoch in her ongoing mission to combat the antisemitism and extremism that is dividing our nation.”
Earlier, he had voiced pride in being selected by the party to run for the Crewkerne South seat in next year’s Somerset Council elections. Currently, he operates a political satire social media account and has previously been convicted for distributing anti-Semitic material and harassing former MP Luciana Berger.
In 2016, Bonehill-Paine was found guilty of a racially aggravated harassment campaign against Berger, making derogatory statements about her online. His history includes a jail sentence for producing propaganda for a neo-Nazi event that featured disturbing imagery of Auschwitz.
Despite his withdrawal, Bonehill-Paine has expressed commitment to addressing the issues facing the Jewish community, stating his dedication to “challenging the wave of hatred British Jews continue to face.” Hours before stepping down, Jewish leaders rejected an invitation to meet with him following his candidacy announcement, condemning his criminal background and previous actions.
The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council characterised Bonehill-Paine as “a former neo-Nazi with criminal convictions for antisemitic hatred,” emphasising that his crimes against outstanding public figures like Luciana Berger invoke ongoing legal restrictions. They stressed the importance of considering the impact of such selections on victims, arguing that “this should not in this case entail selection as a candidate for a major political party.”
Kemi Badenoch stood by her decision to select Bonehill-Paine, asserting that former extremists could play a role in fighting against antisemitism. In a statement on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said, “If we can’t have the people who have previously been radicalised, who understand what went wrong…then how can we pretend that we believe in rehabilitation?”
However, she clarified that Bonehill-Paine would not be given a national platform and that his responsibilities as a councillor would be primarily related to local issues, indicating her “much higher thresholds for what it takes to be a Conservative MP.”
The ongoing dialogue around Bonehill-Paine’s candidacy highlights the complexities surrounding rehabilitation and representation in politics, particularly concerning individuals with histories of extremism. Amidst continuing debates on these matters, the situation remains fluid.
