Kemi Badenoch’s weird week: defence of ex-neo-Nazi raises questions over Tory direction
Summary
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, defended a former neo-Nazi activist, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, after he was selected as a local Tory candidate. Despite backlash, Badenoch stood by him, even offering him an advisory role on radicalization, at the same time as she led a party purge targeting centrists and those supporting certain policies.Key Facts
- Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a convicted neo-Nazi activist, was picked as a Conservative local election candidate in Somerset.
- Bonehill-Paine had been convicted for sexist and antisemitic harassment of a Labour MP.
- After public pressure, Bonehill-Paine withdrew as candidate but was asked by Badenoch to advise on radicalization among young men.
- Badenoch defended her decision and criticized attempts to "cancel" people who have changed.
- Badenoch recently removed several centrist Conservative MPs from the party and barred candidates supporting policies like net zero emissions and European human rights protections.
- This party purge has led to criticism and resignations among moderate Tories.
- Critics accuse Badenoch of copying policies from the Reform UK party and question her leadership direction.
- The controversy highlights tensions within the Conservative Party between hardline and moderate members.
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