英国保守党领导人凯米·贝登诺克为党内候选人约书亚·博内希尔-佩恩进行了辩护，尽管后者曾因针对前议员卢西亚娜·伯格的反犹太虐待活动而被监禁[1]。伯格在社交媒体上表态反对，声称"这个人不应该在公共生活中担任任何角色——因为他既具有种族主义又对女性存在不尊重"[1]。
博内希尔-佩恩于2015年因在计划的新纳粹集会前发布反犹太材料而被监禁三年以上[1]，随后于2016年因对伯格的种族仇恨骚扰被定罪，涉及五个特定博客[1]。贝登诺克为这位候选人进行了辩护，表示"他是曾因此被定罪的人，但他表现出了对自己罪行的忏悔，已经获得改过自新，并且每天都在为解决他曾造成的问题而工作"[1]。
博内希尔-佩恩近年因创作病毒式人工智能视频系列"Crewkerne Gazette"而重新出现在公众视野，并计划明年参选萨默塞特郡议会选举[1]。伯格的呼吁获得了包括英国犹太人代表委员会和工党在内的多方批评[1]。
Former MP Luciana Berger has urged the Conservative Party to drop Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a candidate, citing his history of antisemitic abuse directed at her.[1] Berger stated on social media: "For the avoidance of doubt, I don't believe this man should have any role in public life – because of both his racism and his view of women."[1]
Bonehill-Paine was imprisoned for over three years in 2015 after posting antisemitic material online ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally.[1] He was subsequently convicted in 2016 of racially aggravated harassment against Berger following a targeted campaign against her.[1] He was also convicted on five specific blog posts related to racial harassment.[1] Despite these convictions, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has defended keeping him as a candidate, arguing that he has shown remorse and rehabilitation. "Yes, he is somebody who had been previously convicted for this, 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 he had caused previously," Badenoch stated.[1]
Bonehill-Paine has resurfaced in recent years following the viral success of his AI video series, the Crewkerne Gazette.[1] He is planning to stand for election to Somerset County Council next year.[1] Badenoch's position has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Labour Party.[1]