Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBaroness Luciana Berger said the candidate should not “have any role in public life” (PA Archive)A Labour peer, Baroness Luciana Berger, has criticised the Conservative Party's selection of Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a candidate for the Crewkerne South division of Somerset in next May's council elections. Bonehill-Paine was previously jailed in 2016 for racially aggravated harassment against Lady Berger, who is Jewish, after writing blog posts describing her as "an evil money-grabber" and claiming the number of Jewish Labour MPs was a "problem". Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, defended the selection, stating that Bonehill-Paine has shown contrition, been rehabilitated, and is now actively working to combat antisemitism, even being certified by the Home Office to train police officers. Lady Berger expressed her distress, recalling giving evidence while six months pregnant and stating that Bonehill-Paine should not have any role in public life due to his racism and views on women, directly challenging Badenoch's decision. Bonehill-Paine himself acknowledged his "utterly indefensible" past actions, expressing shame and stating he has since dedicated himself to challenging the hatred faced by British Jews, a commitment he intends to maintain. In fullFormer neo-Nazi activist convicted of harassing Jewish MP standing as Tory candidate in local electionsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in