Barnet Labour demands Tories drop ex-neo-Nazi adviser

Barnet Labour leader Barry Rawlings has called on the local Conservative group to condemn the appointment of Joshua Bonehill-Paine as an adviser to the Conservative Party. Rawlings sent an open letter to opposition leader Peter Zinkin on Wednesday night, urging him to demand that Kemi Badenoch drop Bonehill-Paine from the role.

Bonehill-Paine was jailed in December 2015 for three years and four months after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred against Jews. His offences included planning to burn the Talmud and destroy Israeli flags at a rally in Golders Green, promoted with Holocaust-mocking imagery, as reported by the Jewish Chronicle.

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In 2016, he received an additional two-year sentence for a campaign of online antisemitic abuse against then-Labour MP Luciana Berger. He referred to Berger as “evil” and a “money-grabber”, and labelled his campaign “Operation Filthy Jew Bitch”. Berger, now a member of the House of Lords, said the abuse had a “deep impact” on her and her family.

Zinkin declines to condemn appointment

Zinkin, who represents Golders Green, responded to Rawlings’ letter by declining to condemn Badenoch’s decision. He acknowledged the concerns of the Jewish community but said there were “genuine differences of opinion” on whether individuals who have shown remorse should be given opportunities for rehabilitation.

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Zinkin said: “Whilst many have been upset by the decision, others understand the principle articulated by Kemi Badenoch that individuals who have genuinely changed and demonstrated remorse should not necessarily be denied any opportunity for rehabilitation.”

He added that Bonehill-Paine’s involvement in counter-extremism work since leaving prison was “uncommon” and should be acknowledged where genuine contrition is shown. Zinkin also highlighted Badenoch’s record of supporting Jewish communities, including in Golders Green, and contrasted it with Labour’s past handling of antisemitism.

““The pain caused by antisemitism is real, and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.””

Peter Zinkin, Conservative opposition leader, Barnet Council

What happens next

Rawlings’ letter asked Zinkin to publicly urge Badenoch to remove Bonehill-Paine from his advisory role. It is unclear whether Zinkin will take further action. Residents can contact Zinkin at [peter.zinkin@barnet.gov.uk](mailto:peter.zinkin@barnet.gov.uk) or Badenoch at [kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk](mailto:kemi.badenoch.mp@parliament.uk).