--- title: "Joshua Bonehill-Paine to stand as Conservative candidate in Somerset elections" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections" category: "Politics" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-08-05T07:46:02.980Z" source_reported: "2026-08-04T10:36:36.462Z" updated: "2026-08-05T07:46:02.980Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" --- # Joshua Bonehill-Paine to stand as Conservative candidate in Somerset elections *Former neo-Nazi with multiple convictions selected for Crewkerne South division in May 2027 vote* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68 because multiple named sources and specific date/location, but no documents or origin for figures. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 for clear context, quotes from candidates and leader, specific data, and next steps outlined. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15; language is factual with no sensationalist headline or exaggerated claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi with convictions for assault, burglary, and racially aggravated harassment, will stand as a Conservative candidate in Somerset’s Crewkerne South division on 6 May 2027. - The election will be the first under new boundaries set by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, electing 96 councillors to Somerset Council. - Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended Bonehill-Paine’s selection, stating he had shown contrition and was certified by the Home Office to train police on counter-extremism. - No left- or right-rated outlets reported on the story, according to the material provided. Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi with multiple criminal convictions, will stand as a Conservative candidate in the Somerset local elections on 6 May 2027. He will contest the new Crewkerne South division, one of 96 seats created under boundary changes by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Bonehill-Paine’s convictions include assaulting a police officer, burglary of a police station, malicious communications, and racially aggravated harassment of then-Labour MP Luciana Berger. He served three years in prison between 2015 and 2018 for posting anti-Semitic material online. Since his release, he has worked as an events organiser for the Conservatives’ Yeovil branch and holds counter-extremism certifications from the Home Office. In a statement on his Facebook page, Bonehill-Paine criticised the ruling Liberal Democrats for local issues, including poor road conditions, traffic congestion, and inadequate support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He pledged to prioritise local housing, policing, and healthcare if elected. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended his selection, stating he had shown contrition and was actively working to counter extremism. She said, as reported by the Bristol Post, that Bonehill-Paine had been certified by the Home Office to train police officers on anti-Semitism and that the party believed in second chances for those who had rehabilitated. ## What the coverage left out None of the left- or right-rated outlets carried the story, according to the material provided. The centre-rated digests did not include details of Bonehill-Paine’s specific convictions beyond his prison sentence, which were reported in full by the Bristol Post. **Coverage watch:** unwatched. Checked 0 times; 0 checks found a material change. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - All three centre-rated reports led on Bonehill-Paine’s criminal history and his selection as a Conservative candidate. The Bristol Post’s full report detailed his convictions, including the racially aggravated harassment of Luciana Berger, and quoted his campaign statement in full. It also included Badenoch’s defence of his selection, framing it as part of the party’s commitment to rehabilitation. - The digests from Somerset County Gazette and Somerset Live both noted his prison sentence and his candidacy, with the Gazette quoting his campaign slogan, “get Crewkerne, and Somerset, working again.” Somerset Live’s digest highlighted Badenoch’s defence of his selection as the lead detail. ### Right No separate framing summary. ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [somersetcountygazette.co.uk](https://somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/26434778.former-neo-nazi-running-tories-somerset-elections) — Former neo-Nazi to stand for Conservatives in Somerset local elections - [Bristol Post](https://bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/former-neo-nazi-stand-conservatives-11091994) — Former neo-Nazi to stand for Conservatives in Somerset local elections - [Somerset Live](https://somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/former-neo-nazi-stand-conservatives-11091994) — Former neo-Nazi to stand for Conservatives in Somerset local elections ## Questions **What crimes was Joshua Bonehill-Paine convicted of?** Joshua Bonehill-Paine was convicted of assaulting a police officer, burglary of a police station, malicious communications, and racially aggravated harassment of then-Labour MP Luciana Berger. He served three years in prison between 2015 and 2018 for posting anti-Semitic material online, as reported by the Bristol Post. **Why did Kemi Badenoch defend Bonehill-Paine’s selection?** Kemi Badenoch defended his selection by stating he had shown contrition for his crimes and was certified by the Home Office to train police officers on counter-extremism. She said the Conservative Party believed in second chances for those who had rehabilitated, according to the Bristol Post. **When are the Somerset local elections and how many councillors will be elected?** The Somerset local elections will be held on 6 May 2027, electing 96 councillors to Somerset Council. This will be the first election under new boundaries set by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Joshua Bonehill-Paine to stand as Conservative candidate in Somerset elections", https://mediabias.news/politics/joshua-bonehill-paine-to-stand-as-conservative-candidate-in-somerset-elections