In a shocking turn of events, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist with a history of criminal convictions, has been selected as the Conservative Party candidate for the upcoming Somerset council election. Known for his inflammatory views and the satirical Crewkerne Gazette online series, Bonehill-Paine’s candidacy raises significant questions about the party’s stance on extremism and inclusivity.
A Troubling Past
Bonehill-Paine’s history is marred by a series of convictions, including harassment of Jewish MP Luciana Berger and the dissemination of antisemitic material. In 2014, he was sentenced for making malicious communications that resulted in death threats against a Leicester pub’s owners. His criminal record also includes an assault on a police officer and burglary. Most notably, he was imprisoned in 2015 for over three years after posting vile antisemitic propaganda ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally.
Despite his past, Bonehill-Paine claims his convictions have been “spent” and insists he has turned a new leaf, holding various Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He asserts that he has discussed his history alongside MPs, shedding light on antisemitism in the UK.
Party Support and Controversy
Bonehill-Paine expressed gratitude for the support he has received from the Conservative Party, particularly from the chairman of the Yeovil branch, who has been vocal about backing him since he joined. “The branch and indeed party are fully aware of my past,” he stated. However, his selection has sparked outrage among opponents, particularly from Reform UK, who accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of hypocrisy for endorsing a candidate with a history of antisemitism.
Critics argue that while Badenoch claims to champion a new generation of candidates and a commitment to combating antisemitism, Bonehill-Paine’s nomination contradicts these assertions. A spokesperson for Reform UK stated, “Kemi claims the Tories have changed…yet selects a convicted antisemite Nazi as a candidate. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.”
Internal Party Struggles
The selection of Bonehill-Paine occurs amid growing tensions within the Conservative Party. Badenoch has been accused of sidelining centrist members while demanding adherence to her right-leaning policies, such as scrapping the 2050 net-zero target and withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. Recently, Cody Butler, a young Tory activist, resigned from his position as chair of the One Nation Conservative Network, citing a lack of space for centrist conservatism within the party.
With Badenoch pushing for a “brand new party full of new people,” the inclusion of a figure like Bonehill-Paine may signal a radical shift in the party’s ethos, further alienating traditional Tory supporters.
Why it Matters
The candidacy of Joshua Bonehill-Paine highlights the Conservative Party’s ongoing struggles with its identity and the delicate balance between appealing to a broader electorate while catering to its right-wing base. His selection not only raises alarms about the party’s commitment to tackling extremism but also risks alienating voters who expect a firm stance against hate speech and discrimination. As the elections approach, how the Tories navigate this controversy could define their future and influence public perception in the years to come.
