An allegedly “former” Neo-Nazi, convicted in 2016 of harassing a Jewish MP by calling her a “dominatrix” and “an evil money-grabber” with a “deep-rooted hatred of men,” is running under the Conservative Party ticket for a seat in next year’s Somerset Council elections, the Independent reports on British politics becoming just a little bit more like American politics.
Joshua Bonehill-Paine said he’s “tremendously proud” to have been selected by the party to stand as a candidate to rep Crewkerne South on the regional council. Commenting on his candidacy, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the party “believes in second chances… Josh is someone who actually has been certified by the Home Office to train police officers on anti-Semitism and on countering extremism. Yes, he is somebody who had been previously convicted, but he is someone 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.” Still sounds pretty “feature, not bug.”