A former Labour Member of Parliament has called on the Conservative Party to withdraw its support for a local election candidate who was previously jailed for antisemitic abuse directed at her. Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has a history as a neo-Nazi, was convicted in 2016 for racially harassing Luciana Berger, a Jewish politician. This conviction occurred while he was already serving a prison sentence for disseminating antisemitic material.

Baroness Berger, who now sits in the House of Lords, has stated that Bonehill-Paine should be barred from holding public office. The selection of Bonehill-Paine as a candidate for a seat in the upcoming Somerset Council election has drawn criticism from Jewish groups, who have reportedly rejected an invitation from the Conservative Party to meet him. The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding acceptable conduct for individuals seeking elected positions, particularly in light of past extremist behavior.

Baroness Berger described the harassment she experienced as deeply impactful due to the "volume" and "extremity" of the material Bonehill-Paine disseminated. She emphasized the need for a high standard for those aspiring to public office, asserting that Bonehill-Paine "falls very, very short of that." Her remarks underscore the personal toll such abuse can take and the perceived unsuitability of the candidate for public service.

Bonehill-Paine's past legal troubles include a three-year prison sentence in 2015 for posting antisemitic content in anticipation of a neo-Nazi rally. The 2016 conviction for harassing Baroness Berger saw him described by the sentencing judge as being involved in a "difficult to envisage worse case" of racially aggravated harassment. The judge noted Bonehill-Paine's apparent enjoyment of Baroness Berger's discomfort during the trial, where he reportedly smirked and performed a Nazi salute.

In his defense, Bonehill-Paine has publicly acknowledged his past views as "indefensible" and claims to have spent years actively opposing antisemitism since his release from prison. In a recent article for the Conservative Home blog, he stated that he recognizes the "profound pain" his previous actions caused, particularly within the Jewish community. He presented his selection as a candidate as a "stark reminder" of those past actions.

Despite these assertions, the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has defended the party's decision to select Bonehill-Paine. Badenoch stated that while his past crimes were "appalling," she believes he has demonstrated rehabilitation and is now actively engaged in combating antisemitism. This stance has been met with skepticism by critics and Jewish organizations.

Baroness Berger, who left the Labour Party in 2019 over its handling of antisemitism allegations before rejoining in 2023, attended court to give evidence against Bonehill-Paine. She characterized his behavior during the trial as indicative of his worldview and "utter contempt" for his targets, recounting how he doctored photographs of her into sexualized images and described her as "very evil."

The controversy raises questions about the vetting processes within political parties and the criteria for selecting candidates, especially those with documented histories of hate speech and criminal convictions related to extremist ideologies. The debate centers on whether past actions, even if the individual claims rehabilitation, should permanently disqualify someone from representing the public.