Barnet councillor condemns ex-neo-Nazi advisor role

Barnet Green councillor Charli Thompson has described Kemi Badenoch's decision to support a former neo-Nazi as "completely indefensible". Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has multiple convictions for antisemitism, was recently selected as a Conservative Party candidate for the 2027 Somerset Council elections. Following public outcry, he withdrew from the candidacy, but not before national Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch offered him an advisory role.

Charli Thompson, Barnet's only Green councillor, stated her strong condemnation of Ms Badenoch's action. "Given the seriousness of Joshua Bonehill-Paine’s history of neo-Nazi activity and antisemitic harassment I find the decision not only to select him as a Conservative candidate, but then to offer him a national advisory role, completely indefensible," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. She added that "xenophobia in any form is abhorrent."

History of Convictions

Bonehill-Paine's past includes a 2014 conviction for malicious communications related to an anti-Islam hoax that resulted in death threats against pub owners in Leicester. In December 2015, he received a sentence of three years and four months for inciting racial hatred against Jewish people. Further legal action in 2016 led to an additional two-year jail term for a campaign of online antisemitic abuse targeting Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger. During this campaign, he made derogatory remarks about Ms Berger and labelled his online actions "Operation Filthy Jew Bitch".

Barnet Labour Leader's Intervention

Barnet council leader Barry Rawlings addressed the matter in an open letter to Barnet Conservative leader Peter Zinkin. Councillor Rawlings questioned whether Cllr Zinkin would publicly urge Kemi Badenoch to immediately remove Mr Bonehill-Paine from any official Conservative Party role. He also asked if Cllr Zinkin would remonstrate with Ms Badenoch for expressing sadness at Mr Bonehill-Paine's withdrawal as a candidate and for stating he should not have been selected.

Councillor Rawlings urged Cllr Zinkin to take a stand against extremism, stating, "We live in a time of surging extremism on right and left, and it is critical that those of us who believe in a tolerant liberal society take a stand. I urge you to do so now." He called on Cllr Zinkin to press Ms Badenoch to drop Bonehill-Paine as an adviser and to show disapproval of her comments.

Conservative Response

In his response, Councillor Peter Zinkin declined to condemn the Conservative Party's Westminster leader. "As a member of the Jewish community and a councillor for Golders Green, I understand the concerns that many have expressed," Cllr Zinkin stated. He noted that while many were upset, "others understand the principle articulated by Kemi Badenoch that individuals who have genuinely changed and demonstrated remorse should not necessarily be denied any opportunity for rehabilitation."

Councillor Zinkin concluded, "There are genuine differences of opinion on this issue, and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise." Bonehill-Paine himself stated earlier this month, amidst the outcry, that he has reformed his views and has engaged in counter-extremism work since his release from prison in May 2018.