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Kemi Badenoch has said her party "believes in second chances", after the Conservatives selected as a local election candidate a man who was once jailed for harassing a Jewish former MP.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine posted on social media that he was "tremendously proud to announce" he has been chosen to stand for election to Somerset Council, in the Crewkerne South ward.
Mr Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016, after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment.
He wrote several blog posts about the former Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree Baroness Luciana Berger, labelling her "an evil money-grabber" with a "deep-rooted hatred of men".
In one post, he claimed the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a "problem".
He was previously jailed for producing an ad illustrated with a picture of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz which promised "an absolute gas" at a rally in Golders Green, north London.
Asked about his selection, Mrs Badenoch on Tuesday told reporters: "I want to be very clear - and I think people can look at me and know that I'm not a person who would be recruiting neo-Nazis.
"Josh is someone who actually has been certified by the Home Office to train police officers on antisemitism and on countering extremism.
"Yes, he is somebody who had been previously convicted but he is someone who has shown contrition for his crimes, has been rehabilitated and is spending every day working to solve the very problem which he knew that he had caused previously. He's going up and down the country training people."
Earlier this year, Channel 4 News unmasked Mr Bonehill-Paine as the anonymous man behind the viral satirical X page the Crewkerne Gazette.
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0:00
I believe in redemption and I believe in rehabilitation
0:02
But do I believe that a former neo-Nazi activist with convictions including the harassment of a Jewish MP
0:08
should be able to stand as a Conservative candidate for a local election in Somerset
0:12
Josh is someone who actually has been certified by the Home Office
0:17
to train police officers on anti-Semitism and on countering extremism. Yes, he is somebody who had been previously convicted
0:26
but he is someone who has shown contrition for his crimes, has been rehabilitated and is spending every day working to solve the very problem which he knew he had caused previously
0:36
He's going up and down the country training people. And the Conservative Party believes in second chances
0:42
This is not just someone that we've picked up who's a convicted criminal
0:45
This is somebody who is actively working to help communities, especially Jewish communities
0:50
There is a character called Joshua Bonehill-Payne who was very active online
0:56
is due to stand for election to Somerset Council next year. He has previously described himself
1:01
as a nationalist fascist theorist and supporter of white rights. He has a conviction for assaulting a police officer
1:08
and burglary of a police station. And he was convicted in 2014 of malicious communications
1:14
over an anti-Islam hoax that led to death threats against the owners of a pub in Leicester
1:19
He was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after posting vile anti-Semitic material online
1:24
before a planned neo-Nazi rally. In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment
1:31
over posts directed at the then Labour MP, Luciana Berger, who is Jewish
1:36
He called her a, and I'm quoting now, he called her a rodent and an evil money grabber
1:42
He told The Guardian his convictions had been spent and that he had various Home Office counter-extremism certifications
1:48
and that he'd spoken alongside MPs about his past and highlighted anti-Semitism faced by Britain's Jewish community
1:56
Reform UK said last night, Kemi claims to support the fight against anti-Semitism
2:01
yet selects a convicted anti-Semite Nazi as a candidate. Kemi Baden-Ottt's Conservative Party has recently told Grant Shapps
2:10
that he's not allowed to run as a candidate. That's Grant Shapps, former Tory party chairman
2:15
Not allowed to run for the Tories under Kemi Baden-Ottt's glorious rule
2:19
Joshua Bonehill Payne a former neo-Nazi activist with convictions including the harassment
2:26
of a Jewish MP he can. I really want you to think about this
2:31
I want you to think about rehabilitation I want you to think about redemption I want you to think about second chances
2:36
and I want you to think about something I said to you last week the fact that that old adage
2:41
about a leopard being unable to change its spots is untrue and it's technically true if you're a leopard
2:46
but I don't think there's much point being alive if you don't try to be better, if you don't try to change
2:52
This might be a consequence of my Catholic upbringing, but you can arrive at the same conclusion via completely different routes
2:58
What's the point of doing anything if you're not trying to be better? And by being better, you usually end up happier
3:04
But that's not the point. A leopard can change its spots. I want you to think about all of that as I read you
3:10
a statement from a Conservative Party spokesman. Mr Bonehill Payne's past actions were indefensible
3:17
He was rightly punished and served his sentence. Mr Bonehill-Payne has explained that he has sought to make amends
3:23
through counter-extremism work. The Conservative Party believes in rehabilitation and that people can change
3:30
but all members must adhere to our code of conduct and our values
3:35
Ultimately, the decision to elect him will be one for the public
3:39
Wasn't she absolutely on her high horse about Louise Hague's spent conviction
3:42
for not reporting that she'd found a phone that she'd reported as stolen
3:49
I'm pretty sure she was. I mean, listen, maybe there's a universe in which not telling the police
3:55
that you'd found a phone that you'd previously reported, that you thought had been stolen in a previous..
3:59
Or maybe she told more egregious lies, but they weren't proved and she wasn't found guilty of that
4:04
Maybe that worse in some ways than being a former neo activist with convictions including the harassment of a Jewish MP or maybe being a Conservative candidate for a local election in Somerset is not comparable to being an MP If we as a society don believe in redemption and the possibility of changing the nature of a person
4:24
why do we have prisoners who might just as well execute everybody
4:29
I think you might be right. If there is no possibility. I think you might be right. Is it Matthew at Hope Not Hate
4:34
One of the people at Hope Not Hate had some fairly pungent far-right associations back in the day
4:40
He's written incredibly powerfully about how he's seen the light. I mean, if he has seen the light, and Kemi Bader not has no reason to..
4:50
I mean, she'd have looked into it more than we can and more than we have
4:54
She doesn't want one, does she? James, this is outrageous, chap. I can't believe that we're even having this conversation
5:01
It's bonkers. I'm an accountant, and if I stole a packet of fruit pastels ten years ago
5:07
I couldn't be an accountant, James. But you could be a conservative councillor
5:13
so let's not compare eggs with rice. Well, and herein lies the problem, sir
5:18
Surely there should be a higher state of accountability for somebody who governs than a bloody bean counter
5:24
a muddy bean counter like myself. Or a gob on a stick like me
5:28
I don't know. I mean, it's a bit like the fellow who couldn't get insurance for a vehicle
5:33
after coming out of jail because it indicates a proclivity or an increased likelihood of doing something wrong in the future
5:41
So you get struck off, would you, as an accountant? Yeah, I wouldn't be... I couldn't qualify
5:47
But he wasn't a politician... I think I disagree with you, but I'm wary of just arguing for the sake of it
5:53
so just let me... He wasn't a politician when he did this. If he'd been a councillor when he did these things
5:59
and he'd been drummed out of the party, then inviting him back in again would feel to me to be outrageous
6:05
But he was a private citizen when he did these things and he now repents and has been rehabilitated
6:10
So it's not comparable to you committing a crime in the commission of your accountancy duties
6:15
and expecting to be able to continue as an accountant, is it
6:19
I don't know. I know, though, James, if I committed the crime historically and declared it
6:23
I couldn't have letters after my name. Really? If you'd got anything on you, you couldn't become an accountant
6:29
If you have a criminal record, you can't become an accountant, James
6:32
No, I believe you. I'm just trying to apply that lesson to the candidacy of this guy
6:40
I mean, well, that's the rules of being an accountant. That's not the rules of being a Conservative candidate
6:44
I mean, you don't have an offside rule in cricket. No, well, it's not, is it? It's not bonkers
6:48
It is a different criteria. What about the things Kemi Bader not said
6:52
about the importance of second chances and rehabilitation? she's not wrong james she's not wrong but their words on paper made it means in the broader context
7:03
of a chap who's who's done those things and then he's set to govern over the people that he
7:08
victimized he's going to be a councillor in somerset he's not going to have that much power
7:11
as well i mean any power at all if you've done those things like i said james my benchmark here
7:17
is i could not be an accountant if i'd stolen a packet of fruit pastels in 2015 let alone
7:24
victimising and racism. These are more heinous crimes. And he's governing and I'm an accountant
7:29
This is a joke, James. The absurdity, the level of asymmetric accountability here
7:35
That's a great phrase. That's a brilliant phrase. I reckon you've got to practice what you preach
7:39
And if you believe in rehabilitation, you believe in redemption, then you have to practice
7:45
what you preach. And that's as simple as that. The only things I wouldn't
7:49
put on that list is, honestly, paedophiles and rapists. So, thank you Andy for keeping them in prison so do you know you've done oddly enough you've knitted
7:58
together those two conversations um completely because I was drawn and we didn't do it as a
8:03
phone-in Alec I was drawn to the hierarchy of offending and the fact we are more offended
8:08
by some crimes than we are by others and we don't all agree on what that hierarchy would look like
8:14
but I think I probably agree with your ysis of who should be at the very top of the list of people not getting early release Daily Mail appears to disagree but who knows And that would be it So I mean just for example he couldn be an accountant
8:30
but you've got no problem with him being a Conservative candidate. I disagree with that he shouldn't be an accountant
8:35
I know they're the rules, and I can disagree as well. You can't be a teacher, I don't think, with a criminal record
8:40
I think that's wrong. I think that life experience is honestly important
8:45
This is a proper pendulum, so I can't have it both ways, can I? I can't sit there saying, in the last hour
8:50
well, you obviously did something awful and you've obviously genuinely repented and been rehabilitated
8:55
therefore employers maybe don't even have a right to know about the crime that you committed in the past
8:59
but they certainly shouldn't be judging you on it or turning you down for car insurance. And then fast forward 60 minutes
9:04
and we're saying, well, no, I'm terribly sorry. The nature of your offence is such
9:09
that you shouldn't be allowed to be a conservative candidate. What if you put neo-Nazism on the same page
9:15
as the two offences you've just referred to? I wouldn't because... It's a belief, not an action, isn't it
9:23
Yeah, I think there's a special sickness when it comes to those two crimes. And like you say, it's a belief
9:28
And you can change your beliefs. And we all have a brain and we can learn
9:32
And we're all stupid in our own ways. Even the cleverest. Cleverest
9:37
There you go, there's an example. Some of us can't even say it. No, you're absolutely right. And there is no point having a mind
9:41
if indeed you never change it. What about a... Do you have any children? Forgive me for this
9:45
It's a little bit of a gotcha. Oh, yeah, I have two little boys. There are only one, though, so I'm not, like, at school stage or anything
9:51
No, but if they went to school and you found out that their teacher used to be a neo-Nazi
9:54
would you be supremely comfortable with that? Well, you could also play it the other way
9:59
What if my child became a neo-Nazi, changed their mind and rehabilitated themselves
10:03
I would be OK with it. I would just, I would hope, honestly, that they were being watched
10:08
And, you know, just if anything was a bit like, oh, that was a funny thing to say
10:13
like, that would be reported. And they're going to be watching him more closely than they're going to be watching any other Conservative candidate
10:19
It's all right. I mean, I'm flying on every caller here. I knew this would happen. I'm agreeing with each caller, even as they're completely disagreeing with each other
10:26
Final question. What about poor old Grant Shapps? Well, so, OK, I disagree with Kemi's stance on this whole net zero thing
10:40
But, yeah, I don't know. Oh, God. I got you in the end. I get you all in the end, regardless of the fact that I don't know whether I'm coming or going on this subject
10:48
Grant Shapps not allowed to stand as a Conservative candidate. Former neo-Nazi activist with convictions including the harassment of a Jewish MP
10:56
Absolutely welcomed into the party by Cammie Badenow. Dilly decision, but that's her decision to make
11:05
Fair enough. I wish someone, I wish you ever asked her about Joshua Bonehill-Payne had asked her about Grant Shapps as well
11:11
that would have just been fantastic. Presumably he's all right. He's strong on net zero and the Human Rights Act
11:17
Not so strong historically on the Nazis and Jewish and Muslim people
11:22
but he's strong on net zero and the Human Rights Act, so there is room for him in Kemi Baden-Ock's party
11:29
I'm surprised that I don't have a particularly strong opinion about this, and the reason is caller versus caller
11:36
Something feels utterly wrong about the idea of you not being allowed to be a teacher or an accountant
11:41
if you've got any convictions whatsoever, but you can be a conservative candidate if you've got convictions allied with your past
11:47
as a neo-Nazi activist. And at the same time, why do we go to..
11:51
Well, you perhaps don't go to church, but why does anybody go to church? Why do we repent
11:55
Why do we rehabilitate? Why don't we just execute everybody who's committed a crime
12:00
Why do we recognise the importance of change and improvement? I don't know which way round it would go
12:05
but I think I agree with Kemi Badernaut. Here's the thing, right
12:11
Before I show you what a Wombat Kevin Badenock is, I've just realised something
12:15
I've kind of worked this out in the course of the hour, and you've probably worked it out for yourself already
12:20
If Joshua Bonehill-Payne rang this programme and described who he used to be and what he had done
12:28
and then described who he is now and the journey he has been on then you know how big my ego is so let me add regardless of whether or not he credited the conversations that we have with each other every day as being
12:41
part of his healing process part of his rehabilitation process i would roll out the
12:47
red carpet for him wouldn't i come on you've listened to the program for long enough you know
12:52
what i'd do rang it james i used to be an abs i used to be a nazi but but um but i'm on the straight
12:57
and narrow now and I'm working in the community to train police officers about
13:01
how to spot anti-Semitism or Islamophobia and I'd say good, what was
13:07
you know what I'd do, I'd say what do you think the tipping point was mate
13:11
or do you remember the moment when you realised how ugly the world
13:18
you'd embraced actually was I'd be absolutely fascinated by what he's done and here's the thing
13:23
I would believe him, wouldn't I you know I would I'd believe him
13:28
and for good or for ill I think it's good to be trusting
13:33
it means that sometimes you get let down but it's better than going through life not trusting anybody
13:38
because then you can never make meaningful bonds or relationships I would, wouldn't I
13:46
so I can't sit here, I don't think and say he shouldn't be allowed to run as a Conservative candidate
13:50
unfortunately for Kemi Bader not she also very recently said this Just wait for the very end of these comments that she made in the House of Commons about a year ago
14:02
The question today is what has been on the lips of all Labour MPs, including, I believe, the Health Secretary yesterday
14:08
The Prime Minister knowingly appointed a convicted prodster to be his Transport Secretary
14:13
What was he thinking? Mr Speaker, the previous Transport Secretary was right when further information came forward to resign
14:23
What a marked contrast to behaviour in the last 14 years. And she talks about immigration, record levels of immigration under the previous government
14:34
Nearly a million. And she was the cheerleader. She was the one urging on the removal of the caps for work visas
14:42
She was thanking the previous Home Secretary for the work that was done. She championed it
14:46
She advocated it. Record numbers of immigration. Mr Speaker, he's obfuscating, but I'm going to keep him on the topic
14:54
He owes the House an explanation. He said that the former Transport Secretary was only asked to resign after further information came to light
15:03
What was that further information? I'm not going to disclose private conversations
15:10
Further information came to light, but Justice Secretary resigned. As I say, what a marked contrast
15:15
whilst she's obsessing with the Westminster issues, we're getting on with fixing the mess, fixing the foundations
15:24
that £22 billion black hole, our prisons bursting. And, Mr Speaker, as we found out last week
15:31
nearly a million net migration numbers because of the Tory open borders policy
15:37
The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions. now on to an even bigger fraud
15:47
mr speaker i gently remind her that two of her predecessors had convictions
15:56
for breaking the covid rules so yeah we want politicians with conviction not convictions except for this candidate in
16:13
somerset who's a former neo-nazi i still think that i still think they should let him run you
16:18
know i just do i believe if you don't believe that people can change and you can make jokes
16:22
about well he hasn't changed that much he's still a tory but that is a joke you know there is no
16:27
crossover between traditional conservatism or kemi badenow's conservatism and an actual nazism
16:32
so i just i love that i just had the thought what if he rang in and described the journey that he
16:38
has apparently been on i would believe him and if he ended it by saying and now i want to run for
16:43
council in somerset i'd think blimey you've come a long way mate
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