A former neo-Nazi activist with criminal convictions including for harassing a Jewish MP has been selected as a Conservative candidate for a local election in Somerset.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, the creator of the “Crewkerne Gazette” series of satirical AI clips, is due to stand for election to Somerset council next year in a new Crewkerne South district. The selection was confirmed as part of the Conservatives’ candidate process for the council vote.

Selection For Somerset Council

Bonehill-Paine said he is an executive member of the Conservative Party’s Yeovil branch, where he worked as an events organiser, and that party officials are aware of his past. In an interview with The Guardian, he said the branch leadership had supported him after he joined the party.

He also said he had been backed by the branch chairman, who had advocated for him within the party.

Convictions And Past Statements

Bonehill-Paine was previously convicted of assaulting a police officer and of burglary of a police station. He was also jailed for posting antisemitic material online ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally.

In 2014, he was convicted of malicious communications connected to an anti-Islam hoax that resulted in death threats being sent to the owners of a pub in Leicester.

In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment after abuse directed at Luciana Berger, a Jewish former Labour MP. The court found he posted messages on a blog describing Berger as a “rodent” and an “evil money-grabber”. He was also described as the founder and leader of the National British Resistance, a far-right group.

Bonehill-Paine has more recently re-emerged through the “Crewkerne Gazette” account, which he created and which has built a cult following. The series is critical of Labour and Reform UK, while its sketches have portrayed Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in a favourable way.

Wider Party Tensions And Criticism

The Conservatives’ opponents on the right were quick to accuse the party of hypocrisy over antisemitism following his selection. A Reform UK spokesperson said Badenoch had claimed the party had changed and would present candidates from a “new generation”, adding that it was now clear what kind of candidates were being chosen.

The controversy over the “Crewkerne Gazette” content had included earlier criticism of Conservative chief whip Rebecca Harris after she reposted a video in which Badenoch and the shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, were depicted as characters from the film “Scarface”. That was after Bonehill-Paine was revealed as the person behind the account.

Bonehill-Paine told The Guardian on Monday that his criminal convictions had since been spent and that he holds Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He said he had spoken alongside MPs about his past and had drawn attention to antisemitism faced by Jewish people in Britain.

The decision comes amid internal pressure on Badenoch. Last month, it emerged that prospective Conservative MPs would be required to align with her pledge to scrap the 2050 net zero target and leave the European Convention on Human Rights. At the weekend, Cody Butler resigned as chair of the One Nation Conservative Network, saying in a public letter that he no longer believed there was a place for one-nation conservatism in the party.

Badenoch told the BBC last week that she was leading “a brand new party full of new people” after reports that former cabinet minister Grant Shapps had been rejected as a prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate.

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4 August 2026

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For crying out loud Badenoch, get a grip!

I, and many others would wish to support your attempts to turn around the Tory Party. Your performance in Parliament is impressive. You do not need these reptiles. They put off many of your supporters. Bonehill-Paine brings nothing to the party, or to advance the cause of conservatism.

Take a leaf (I hate to say it) out of the Blair/New Labour book. Blair took a defeated party, with no real chance of government and turned it into an election winning machine - through imposing discipline.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Bonehill-Paine told The Guardian on Monday that his criminal convictions had since been spent and that he holds Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He said he had spoken alongside MPs about his past and had drawn attention to antisemitism faced by Jewish people in Britain.

Great to see he's seen the errors of his ways and turned his life around. He was on a dark path.

Politically it's a bad move though. Leftists are not the forgiving types. The #bekind mask often hides deeply bitter, vitriolic people and there is no way he will be allowed to forget his mistakes. Hence, a bad move by the Tories.

Man the Fire Engines, can't wait to see @Yagoda views on this.

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Great to see he's seen the errors of his ways and turned his life around. He was on a dark path.

Politically it's a bad move though. Leftists are not the forgiving types. The #bekind mask often hides deeply bitter, vitriolic people and there is no way he will be allowed to forget his mistakes. Hence, a bad move by the Tories.

I have to admit, I’m not inclined to forgive Neo-Nazis.

Once they’ve shown who they are I take that as enough of a warning.

53 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I have to admit, I’m not inclined to forgive Neo-Nazis.

Once they’ve shown who they are I take that as enough of a warning.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by Chomper Higgot

22 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.

You think Hitler is good?

Can't say I'm surprised...

Terrible anti-Nazism on this thread. Really shocking.

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

You think Hitler is good?

Can't say I'm surprised...

Jonny demonstrates the use of the non sequiteur…. Again.

9 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Man the Fire Engines, can't wait to see @Yagoda views on this.

some jew haters are trolls, or do it to be popular or just to go along. they can change their ways, especially if their underlying mental illness is treated.

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.

wow. are you ok? do we need to call the crisis line. is the realization that your philosophy is the most disgusting and evil philosophy ever finally made you to take the step to make yourself good?

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

some jew haters are trolls, or do it to be popular or just to go along. they can change their ways, especially if their underlying mental illness is treated.

wow. are you ok? do we need to call the crisis line. is the realization that your philosophy is the most disgusting and evil philosophy ever finally made you to take the step to make yourself good?

Odd thing to say for a guy who posts Nazi ideology on this forum.

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Odd thing to say for a guy who posts Nazi ideology on this forum.

lol, yeah thats what i do everyday.

show me any post that shows i supported national socialism, except in your own age addled mind.

personally, i think that adherence, support or allegience to national socialism is a crime deserving of punishment.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by Yagoda

8 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

lol, yeah thats what i do everyday.

show me any post that shows i supported national socialism, except in your own age addled mind.

personally, i think that adherence, support or allegience to national socialism is a crime deserving of punishment.

I didn’t say you support National Socialism, I said you posted Nazi ideology.

That’s not support of National Socialism it’s you espousing Nazi ideology. I called it out at the time and we discussed it, so let’s not have any gaslighting.

Nobody forced you to vomit your vile Nazi ideology you did it if your own volition.

Unfortunately for you there’s no reverse gear on your mouth.

The very same nasty little Nazi you so frequently accuse others of being - except the goods are on you.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by Chomper Higgot

Bonehill Paine may not be the only one with convictions, however I guess we will never know.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/minister-criminal-records-remain-secret-information-tribunal-zszfhh72g

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That’s not support of National Socialism it’s you espousing Nazi ideology. I called it out at the time and we discussed it, so let’s not have any gaslighting

lol, your analysis was as always defective

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nobody forced you to vomit your vile Nazi ideology you did it if your own volition

as you do every post. your entire life is a philosophical lie that you spew every day here.

bet if this reformed national socialist was running as labour, he wouldnt need to change his views and you would support him lol

Just now, Yagoda said:

lol, your analysis was as always defective

as you do every post. your entire life is a philosophical lie that you spew every day here.

bet if this reformed national socialist was running as labour, he wouldnt need to change his views and you would support him lol

There you go again, inventing views on my behalf.

Please in the future, keep your vile Nazi ideology to yourself, ‘get back into the closet’ so you speak.

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.

Indeed.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There you go again, inventing views on my behalf.

Please in the future, keep your vile Nazi ideology to yourself, ‘get back into the closet’ so you speak.

cool/ long live israel, right?

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

cool/ long live israel, right?

Deflection won’t hide your ugly truth.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Deflection won’t hide your ugly truth.

your non answer again exposes you

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

your non answer again exposes you

You choosing to post Nazi ideology exposes you.

7 hours ago, JonnyF said:

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

😂😂 Fair play, Jonny; credit where credit is due. As an example of self-deprecating humour that is up there with the best of them. Bravo👏😂😂

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You choosing to post Nazi ideology exposes you.

lol. you said that twice.

o well, as trotsky said, everyone has the right to be stupid. look, im a commie lol

have your last word, im sure it wont be intelligent

36 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You choosing to post Nazi ideology exposes you.

You only have to google his username, to know this person has serious mental issues

23 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

You only have to google his username, to know this person has serious mental issues

Yogoda means "that which imparts yoga, union, harmony, or equilibrium". It is a Sanskrit-derived word coined by the spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogoda_Satsanga_Society_of_India

8 minutes ago, Mr Awesome said:

Yogoda means "that which imparts yoga, union, harmony, or equilibrium". It is a Sanskrit-derived word coined by the spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogoda_Satsanga_Society_of_India

His username isn't Yogoda, but never mind everyone on this forum knows already you're justa troll

Edited August 4Aug 4 by CallumWK

11 minutes ago, Mr Awesome said:

Yogoda means "that which imparts yoga, union, harmony, or equilibrium". It is a Sanskrit-derived word coined by the spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogoda_Satsanga_Society_of_India

nice try it was Jahoda before we hit the good old usa

36 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

You only have to google his username, to know this person has serious mental issues

yep. i think jews are an accomplished, peace loving people who have contributed benefits to civilization far exceeding their numbers, dont you agree?

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

yep. i think jews are an accomplished, peace loving people who have contributed benefits to civilization far exceeding their numbers, dont you agree?

Did I mention the word Jew in my post. Good try at baiting, but no cigar.

How about your mental issues, that are very obvious?