UK Conservatives Defend Former Neo-Nazi’s Local Election Candidacy

LONDON-Britain’s opposition Conservative Party defended its decision on Wednesday to select a former neo-Nazi and convicted hate offender as a candidate in a local election, arguing he had renounced his past views and demonstrated rehabilitation despite criticism from political opponents and Jewish organizations.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was imprisoned for hate crimes and previously convicted of racially aggravated harassment, had shown genuine remorse and should be allowed to stand in a local council election in Somerset, southwest England.

Bonehill-Paine was convicted in 2015 of racially aggravated harassment targeting Luciana Berger, then a Labour member of parliament. He had also served a prison sentence for stirring up hatred against a Jewish community in north London.

His selection as a Conservative candidate prompted condemnation from opposition parties and Jewish advocacy groups, which questioned the party’s judgment in allowing him to seek public office despite his criminal record.

Speaking to the BBC, Badenoch described Bonehill-Paine’s previous conduct as “appalling” but said he had disavowed his extremist beliefs and was seeking election to a local authority rather than a national political role. She said his responsibilities would be limited to local government matters and cited his involvement with the Prevent anti-radicalization program as evidence of his rehabilitation.

Badenoch said she wanted to build a broader movement against antisemitism in Britain and argued that individuals who had genuinely rejected extremist ideologies should be given an opportunity to demonstrate rehabilitation.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over antisemitism in British politics. Political parties across the spectrum have faced scrutiny in recent years and have suspended, expelled or withdrawn candidates over allegations involving antisemitic conduct or extremist behavior.

Ahead of local elections in May, a Welsh parliament candidate for the right-wing Reform UK party resigned after being photographed appearing to perform a Nazi salute. The Green Party also suspended several candidates following allegations of antisemitism.

The governing Labour Party has also faced criticism over its handling of antisemitism. Britain’s equality watchdog concluded in 2020 that Labour had failed to deal adequately with complaints while it was in opposition, but said in 2023 that the party had taken sufficient steps to address the issue.

Badenoch defended her party’s decision in part by referring to Labour’s selection of a former Nazi as a local election candidate in 2012, arguing that other parties had also confronted questions over candidates with extremist pasts.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council declined an invitation to meet Bonehill-Paine and urged the Conservative Party to withdraw his candidacy.

Berger, who now sits in the House of Lords, said there was a clear difference between someone educating others about the dangers of extremism and standing for elected office. Speaking to the BBC, she said Bonehill-Paine’s actions had involved a sustained campaign against her and others rather than isolated offensive remarks.

The dispute has intensified debate in Britain over political rehabilitation, accountability and the standards parties should apply when selecting candidates with histories of extremist activity.