Somerset Conservative Candidate Joshua Bonehill-Paine Withdraws Following Backlash Over Neo-Nazi Past
Joshua Bonehill-Paine has withdrawn his Conservative Party candidacy for a council seat in Somerset, just days after his selection sparked considerable public controversy. The party had faced scrutiny over its decision to endorse Mr Bonehill-Paine, who has a documented past as a prominent neo-Nazi activist.
His previous activities include propagating extremist views and engaging in antisemitic campaigns. Mr Bonehill-Paine served a prison sentence in 2016 for harassing Luciana Berger, then a Labour MP, with antisemitic messages. He was also imprisoned in 2019 for racially aggravated harassment. His past includes publishing material praising Anders Breivik, the far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks, and Holocaust denial.
The Conservative Party initially defended his selection, stating that Mr Bonehill-Paine had undergone an "extensive vetting process" and had "shown genuine remorse" for his past actions. This stance, however, failed to quell the criticism from within and outside the party, which highlighted the concerning precedent set by endorsing an individual with such a history of extremism and hate speech.
The withdrawal means the Conservative Party will now need to select a new candidate for the upcoming local elections in the area, a process that will likely be scrutinised given this recent episode.
