Ex neo-Nazi activist withdraws as Tory election candidate
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, has withdrawn his candidacy for a local Conservative council seat following public backlash. He will instead serve as an adviser to the party's Culture and Integration Commission, a move defended by party leader Kemi Badenoch as part of a mission to combat extremism.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing debates regarding political rehabilitation, the limits of 'second chances' in public office, and how parties manage controversial associations.
Image source, Yeovil Conservatives Published 5 August 2026, 16:47 BST Updated Just now A former neo-Nazi selected by the Conservatives to fight a council election next year has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed for posting antisemitic material ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally and a year later he was also convicted of racially harassing then-Labour MP Luciana Berger.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had defended the decision to select him as a candidate in Somerset, saying he had been rehabilitated and her party "believes in second chances".
But Bonehill-Paine said he had now withdrawn his candidacy, adding that opposition parties would "spend all their time focusing on my past".
He added that Badenoch had instead offered him a position as an adviser to the party's Culture and Integration Commission, focusing "on how young men become radicalised".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in