The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have declined a meeting with Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi with criminal convictions for antisemitic harassment, but have agreed to meet with the Conservative Party to discuss his selection as a council candidate.
Joint Statement Highlights Concerns
In a joint statement, the two organisations said: "The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have declined the Conservative party’s invitation to meet with a former neo-Nazi with criminal convictions for antisemitic hatred. The severity of Joshua Bonehill-Paine’s crimes targeting Luciana Berger and others mean that he still faces ongoing legal restrictions. Whilst we do believe in the possibility of rehabilitation, this should not in this case entail selection as a candidate for a major political party, and the impact of this decision on the victims ought to be a central consideration. We have agreed to meet the Conservative party to discuss their decision-making processes and to urge them to rescind this decision."
Background of Convictions
Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 after being convicted of racially aggravated harassment of Labour peer Luciana Berger, who is Jewish. He was previously jailed for producing an advert for a neo-Nazi rally illustrated with a picture of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, which promised "an absolute gas".
Since his release, Bonehill-Paine has apologised for his past offending and stated he has dedicated himself to "challenging the wave of hatred British Jews continue to face". Despite this, the Jewish groups maintain that his candidacy is inappropriate given the severity of his crimes and the ongoing legal restrictions he faces.
Conservative Party's Response and Next Steps
The Conservative Party has not yet publicly commented on the joint statement. However, the meeting between the Jewish groups and the party is expected to focus on the party's candidate selection processes and the potential rescission of Bonehill-Paine's candidacy. The groups have urged the party to consider the impact on victims, including Luciana Berger, who has been a vocal campaigner against antisemitism.
This development comes amid broader concerns about antisemitism within political parties in the UK, with the Conservative Party facing scrutiny over its handling of such cases. The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council have emphasised that while rehabilitation is possible, it should not lead to political candidacy for those with such serious convictions.
