Badenoch Defends Joshua Bonehill-Paine Over Antisemitism Case in UK Politics

Published: 5 August 2026
The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Kemi Badenoch has defended the Conservative Party’s decision to allow a former neo-Nazi activist convicted of antisemitic abuse to stand as a council candidate, arguing that rehabilitation should remain possible for people who have genuinely changed.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who is preparing to contest a council seat in Somerset, was previously jailed for targeting former Labour MP Luciana Berger with antisemitic harassment and for publishing extremist material online. His candidacy has triggered criticism from political opponents and campaigners, who argue that his past actions and continued online activities raise serious concerns about his suitability for public office.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the party was not giving Bonehill-Paine a national platform and distinguished between standing for a local council position and becoming a member of parliament.

“This man is showing that he’s more than contrite, he’s actually working training Prevent officers, speaking in universities and schools,” Badenoch said.

She argued that rejecting people who have previously been involved in extremist movements could undermine efforts to support rehabilitation.

“I am extremely worried about antisemitism,” she said. “If we can’t have the people who have previously been radicalised, who understand what went wrong and are part of the fight against antisemitism now, if we’re saying: ‘No, no, no, you’re untouchable,’ then how can we pretend that we believe in rehabilitation?”

Badenoch added that she personally remains cautious about claims of rehabilitation but believed Bonehill-Paine had demonstrated evidence of change.

However, Luciana Berger, who was subjected to a campaign of antisemitic abuse by Bonehill-Paine in 2016, said she did not believe his record met the standard required for someone seeking elected office.

Berger said there was a clear difference between returning to society after a conviction and taking on a position where a person would represent members of the public.

“There is a big difference between going back into society and teaching others possibly about what you did and why it was wrong, to making the leap to standing for public office,” she told the BBC.

“I think there’s a massive distinction there.”

Berger said the abuse she experienced had caused “profound and deep impacts” that continued to affect her. She recalled giving evidence against Bonehill-Paine while she was six months pregnant and said the experience had been extremely difficult.

Bonehill-Paine was convicted in 2016 of racially aggravated harassment after directing abusive messages towards Berger, who was an MP at the time. His posts described her using antisemitic and dehumanising language.

Before that conviction, he had already been jailed for publishing antisemitic material online ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally. He had also been linked to the far-right organisation National British Resistance, which he founded and led.

His criminal history also includes convictions for assaulting a police officer, burglary of a police station and malicious communications connected to an anti-Islam hoax that resulted in threats against a Leicester pub.

Despite this background, Bonehill-Paine has since claimed he has moved away from extremism and has carried out counter-extremism work. He has said he now assists with discussions about radicalisation and prevention.

Badenoch said those efforts were evidence that people could change, while critics argue that his past behaviour and current online activity should still be considered.

The controversy has intensified because of Bonehill-Paine’s involvement with the Crewkerne Gazette, a satirical online account known for producing AI-generated political videos.

The account has attracted attention for its provocative style, including videos targeting politicians. Some of its content has been criticised as offensive, including material featuring crude imagery and personal attacks.

Berger said she was particularly concerned about the nature of some of the content produced by Bonehill-Paine.

She questioned whether his continued online activity was compatible with holding public office and raised concerns about what she described as misogynistic and inappropriate material.

“I think when you look at that in the round that is not an acceptable person to be in public life,” she said.

Bonehill-Paine is expected to stand for election in the newly created Crewkerne South district in Somerset. He has previously confirmed that he is an executive member of the Conservative Party’s Yeovil branch and has worked as an events organiser.

The decision has created tension within the Conservative Party, which has faced repeated questions over its approach to candidates with controversial backgrounds.

Badenoch attempted to separate the issue from wider political criticism by pointing to cases involving politicians from other parties who have criminal convictions.

She highlighted Louise Haigh, a member of Labour leader Andy Burnham’s cabinet, who previously had a fraud conviction. Badenoch has criticised Haigh in the past, saying the country needs “conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions”.

Critics have rejected the comparison, arguing that crimes involving fraud or other offences are different from cases involving racial hatred and extremist ideology.

The debate comes at a time when political parties across the UK are facing increasing pressure over candidate selection procedures and the standards expected of those seeking elected positions.

Supporters of rehabilitation argue that preventing former offenders from rebuilding their lives can make it harder to tackle extremism. They say individuals who understand radicalisation from personal experience can sometimes play an important role in preventing others from following the same path.

Opponents argue that public office carries additional responsibilities and that candidates must demonstrate not only legal eligibility but also public trust and accountability.

The controversy surrounding Bonehill-Paine highlights a wider national debate about where the line should be drawn between rehabilitation and responsibility. While the law allows many former offenders to return to society after serving their sentences, political parties must decide whether every individual is suitable to represent voters.

For Badenoch, the case represents a test of whether rehabilitation principles should apply equally even in politically sensitive situations. For Berger and others affected by hate campaigns, it raises questions about whether someone with a history of extremist abuse can truly be considered fit for public service.

As the election approaches, the dispute is likely to continue placing pressure on the Conservative Party over its candidate selection decisions and its approach to tackling antisemitism and extremism.

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