Ex neo-Nazi activist withdraws as Tory election candidate

Former neo‑Nazi activist Joshua Bonehill‑Paine has withdrawn as the Conservative candidate for a Somerset by‑elec​tion after a backlash over his candidacy. Bonehill‑Paine was jailed for posting antisemitic material related to a planned neo‑Nazi rally and, a year earlier, was convicted of racially harassing then‑Labour MP Luciana Berger. Tory minister Kemi Badenoch had defended the party’s decision to select him, saying he had been rehabilitated and that the Conservatives “believe in 2nd chances”. Bonehill‑Paine said he had stepped aside because opposition parties would “spend all their time focusing on my past”. He added that Badenoch had instead offered him a role as an adviser to the party’s Culture and Integration Commission, with a focus on “how young men become radicalised”. He described his former views as “indefensible” and noted that he has spent years opposing antisemitism since leaving prison. In a statement he said: “Rather than standing as a local council candidate, I believe that my experience is better used supporting Kemi Badenoch in her ongoing work to combat the antisemitism and extremism”. Badenoch responded on social media: “While I am bitter that Joshua feels he won’t be given the space to explain his position and represent his community, I am glad he is going to work with me and the party on tackling radicalisation”. This breaking news story is being updated and further details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.