Jewish leaders turn down meeting with Conservative council candidate jailed for antisemitism. Should previously jailed offenders, whilst still facing ongoing legal restrictions, be allowed to select

He has provided plenty of ammunition for the opposition to throw at him; foolish to attempt to stand. Two convictions are two too many. Louise Haigh will be tagged with 'convicted fraudster' for the rest of her political career.

While I agree with Kemi Badenoch in principle, Yes, if people make mistakes, they should be allowed to realise the error of their ways and move on. but, but, but.......

......from what I have read, this man was convicted on two occasions, one for posting antisemitic material and then, far mores seriously, for racially harassing a female Jewish MP. As I read it, he spent three years in prison, which means, I presume, a sentence of around 5 years. To get that kind of sentence for what he did, means his crime was considered to be on the serious end of the spectrum. He completed his sentence about 8 years ago,

No, I am sorry, it is far too soon for a man like this to be seeking public office, 20 years after his conviction, it might be possible, but not now.

The best neutral comparison I can make is the case of someone in a financial post who defrauds their employer and serves a prison sentence. That sentence will not bar that person returning to society and rebuilding their career and life, but no employer will give them a job that means they have access to the financial system for a very long time, if ever. Certainly not eight years.

Just checked the headlines- he’s decided to withdraw his candidacy ( at least he now can read the room) and states Kemi Badenoch as offered him a role as a party advisor instead.

Reform Uk said they wouldn’t select him. Has Kemi Badenoch done a U-turn then?

Sorry for my typo- I did mean 2014 and 2016

He is no longer standing as a candidate.

ReturningFromExile

He runs some nasty AI-generated satirical political videos called the Crewkerne Gazette.

Thanks. I didn’t know that. They recently started popping up on my instagram page.

LemonJam

Bone-hill Payne haas got quite a rap history. Convictions for Burglary, assault, criminal damage 2011, malicious communications and harassment 2024 and inciting racial hatred 2015. Then racially aggravated harassment 2026. 3 years and 4 months on one conviction and two years in jail on another conviction

I think it was 2014 not 2024 and 2016 not 2026.

I agree with the Board of British Jews that this man is not suitable for a position of trust.
He sounds unstable and has he really changed his views?

Bone-hill Payne haas got quite a rap history. Convictions for Burglary, assault, criminal damage 2011, malicious communications and harassment 2024 and inciting racial hatred 2015. Then racially aggravated harassment 2026. 3 years and 4 months on one conviction and two years in jail on another conviction.

In a 2026 interview, so following jail release, Bonehill- Paine said his personal political oscillated between the Conservatives and Reform UK and that he had received a Christmas card from Kemi Bdenoch.

His political stature videos attack the Labour Party solely and support Conservative and Reform UK.

That he himself states his politics views oscillate is somewhat a red flag. Potentially he may oscillate further on the spectrum from his oscillating Reform UK/Conservative politcal beliefs to more extreme far right and find himself back where he started?

Will have a listen Tuliptree 👍

He runs some nasty AI-generated satirical political videos called the Crewkerne Gazette.

I heard the interview with Luciana Berger on Today this morning. Worth a listen

Kemi Badenoch sanctioned the selection and said "Yes, he is somebody who had been previously convicted but he is someone who has shown contrition for his crimes, has been rehabilitated and is spending every day working to solve the very problem which he knew that he had caused previously. And the Conservative party believes in second chances".

IMO, I don’t think he’s a suitable candidate for that task, but who is going to judge which errors are excusable and which shouldn’t, or who should be given a second chance and who should not.
There have been several examples on this sort of decision making/justification recently.