Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist with criminal convictions for harassing a Jewish MP, has been selected as a Conservative Party candidate for Somerset council elections next year. Bonehill-Paine will run for the new Crewkerne South district seat and currently serves as an executive member of the Tory Yeovil branch, where he works as an events organizer.

Bonehill-Paine's political background includes activism in extremist movements and multiple convictions. His harassment of a Jewish lawmaker represents one of his serious criminal matters. More recently, he gained public attention as the creator behind the viral Crewkerne Gazette series, which features AI-generated video clips distributed online.

The Conservative Party's selection of Bonehill-Paine as a council candidate raises major questions about the party's vetting procedures and candidate screening processes. Local Conservative associations maintain significant autonomy in selecting candidates for council races, though the national party has oversight mechanisms in place. The choice to nominate someone with his documented history of extremism and criminal convictions suggests these safeguards either failed or were not adequately applied.

This decision comes at a time when the Conservative Party faces ongoing scrutiny over its approach to extremism within its ranks. The party has faced previous controversies involving candidates with problematic statements or affiliations, prompting debates about institutional accountability and values within the organization.

Bonehill-Paine's selection also highlights tensions between local party autonomy and national party standards. While local associations traditionally control candidate selection for council elections more than for parliamentary contests, the party leadership maintains the authority to intervene when candidates fail to meet basic standards of conduct or decorum.

The Somerset council election will take place in 2025. Bonehill-Paine's candidacy is likely to draw continued public and media attention given his