Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi with a history of criminal convictions, has been selected to stand as a Conservative candidate in next year’s local elections for the new Crewkerne South district in Somerset. Bonehill-Paine, who describes himself as an executive member of the Yeovil branch of the Conservative Party, confirmed his candidacy and said the local party leadership was fully aware of his past.
Bonehill-Paine gained prominence as the creator of the Crewkerne Gazette, a satirical online series using artificial intelligence-generated clips. The series has attracted a following for its critical depictions of Labour and Reform UK politicians, while generally portraying Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in a positive light.
His past includes multiple criminal convictions related to hate crimes and harassment. In 2014, Bonehill-Paine was convicted of malicious communications following an anti-Islam hoax that provoked death threats against a pub in Leicester. He was subsequently jailed in 2015 for over three years after posting antisemitic material online prior to a planned neo-Nazi rally. The following year, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment relating to social media posts targeting Luciana Berger, a then Labour MP who is Jewish, using derogatory language.
Despite this record, Bonehill-Paine told the press that his convictions are spent and that he holds certifications from the Home Office aimed at countering extremism. He said he has spoken alongside members of Parliament about his past and sought to raise awareness of antisemitism faced by Jewish communities in the UK.
Reform UK criticised the Conservative Party’s decision to back Bonehill-Paine, stating that although Kemi Badenoch has publicly supported efforts to combat antisemitism, the selection of a candidate with such a background is contradictory.
The Conservative Party has not issued a public response to inquiries concerning Bonehill-Paine’s candidacy. Bonehill-Paine’s upcoming electoral run has raised concerns about vetting processes and the party’s stance on extremism within its ranks.