Labour peer slams Badenoch over selection of ex neo-Nazi candidate who harassed her
- A Labour peer, Baroness Luciana Berger, has criticised the Conservative Party’s selection of Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a candidate for the Crewkerne South division of Somerset in next May’s council elections.
- Bonehill-Paine was previously jailed in 2016 for racially aggravated harassment against Lady Berger, who is Jewish, after writing blog posts describing her as “an evil money-grabber” and claiming the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a “problem”.
- Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, defended the selection, stating that Bonehill-Paine has shown contrition, been rehabilitated, and is now actively working to combat antisemitism, even being certified by the Home Office to train police officers.
- Lady Berger expressed her distress, recalling giving evidence while six months pregnant and stating that Bonehill-Paine should not have any role in public life due to his racism and views on women, directly challenging Badenoch’s decision.
- Bonehill-Paine himself acknowledged his “utterly indefensible” past actions, expressing shame and stating he has since dedicated himself to challenging the hatred faced by British Jews, a commitment he intends to maintain.
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