Conservatives stand by former neo-Nazi candidate as Board of Deputies demands deselection

The Conservative Party has selected Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who served three years in prison for neo-Nazi activism and was convicted of racially harassing MP Luciana Berger, as its candidate for Crewkerne South on Somerset Council in 2027. Leader Kemi Badenoch said the party "believes in second chances." The Board of Deputies of British Jews called his selection one that "beggars belief" and demanded he be dropped.