The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have declined the Conservative Party's invitation to meet with former neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine, but have agreed to meet with the party. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

In a joint statement, the two groups said: "The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have declined the Conservative party’s invitation to meet with a former neo-Nazi with criminal convictions for antisemitic hatred."

The statement noted that the severity of Joshua Bonehill-Paine's crimes targeting Luciana Berger and others means that he still faces ongoing legal restrictions. The groups stated they believe in the possibility of rehabilitation, but this should not in this case entail selection as a candidate for a major political party, and the impact of this decision on the victims ought to be a central consideration.

The Jewish groups have agreed to meet the Conservative party to discuss their decision-making processes and to urge them to rescind this decision.

Bonehill-Paine's criminal history

Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment of Labour peer Luciana Berger, who is Jewish. He was previously jailed for producing an advert for a neo-Nazi rally illustrated with a picture of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz which promised "an absolute gas".

He has since apologised for his past offending, and said he has now dedicated himself to "challenging the wave of hatred British Jews continue to face".

Conservative Party's response

The Conservative Party has not yet officially responded to this situation. However, the Jewish groups' agreement to meet with the party indicates that the issue will be discussed.

Public reaction

This event is widely discussed in the UK. Many political analysts note that such cases highlight shortcomings in the candidate selection process of political parties. Additionally, organizations combating antisemitism have strongly criticized this decision and are calling on the party to reconsider the candidacy.

Conclusion

The decision by British Jewish organizations is an important step in the fight against antisemitism. Their agreement to meet with the party provides an opportunity to resolve the issue. However, Bonehill-Paine's candidacy remains in place, causing significant public outcry.