Crewkerne Gazette

[butchstewie]

I've seen a few things posted from the Crewkerne Gazette and I think I've even posted one or two myself.

Plot twist.

Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election

[amusingduck]

telegraph said:

Deradicalised during his time in prison, Bonehill-Paine has become an anti-extremism campaigner working with the police and in schools to deliver training to combat anti-Semitism.
‘Shown contrition for his crimes’

On Tuesday, Mrs Badenoch defended his selection, adding that she wanted “second chances for good people” who had shown contrition and knew what they did was wrong.

Speaking to reporters in Guildford, she said: “I think people can look at me and know that I’m not a person who would be recruiting neo-Nazis.

“Josh is someone who actually has been certified by the Home Office to train police officers on anti-Semitism and on countering extremism.

“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 he had caused previously.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/08/04/badenoch-defends-selection-of-ex-neo-nazi-as-tory-candidate/

He sounds like you, stew! A superturbocharged version of you, but the parallels are there and they bring a wry smile to my face

You voted for UKIP, he started a far-right party.
You saw the error of your ways and now post endless nonsense on NP&E, he saw the error of his ways and now works in anti-extremism

Love you really

[Patio]

butchstewie said:

I've seen a few things posted from the Crewkerne Gazette and I think I've even posted one or two myself.

Plot twist.

Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election

How many times does this need to be posted?

Get it in the reform thread and it'll almost be a full house

[butchstewie]

According to Badenoch she believes in “second chances for good people”.

This is "good people" is it?

Sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Spencer

Sorry but just no.

[Mr Penguin]

I always thought Crew in this referred to the railway town in Cheshire, but today YouTube recommended me a Time Team video about Crewkerne in Somerset and now I know better.



Very interesting.

[Pupp]

Undoubtedly very slick and polished; superficially amusing in a satirical sense, until the bias becomes obvious. No idea why or who’s funding, but I’ll pass thanks. Loads won’t

[fido]

butchstewie said:

According to Badenoch she believes in second chances for good people .

This is "good people" is it?

Sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Spencer

Sorry but just no.

"He told the Guardian on Monday that his criminal convictions had been spent and that he held various Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He said he had spoken alongside MPs where he talked about his past and highlighted antisemitism faced by Britain s Jewish community."

People do change their ways. One of my favourite radio presenters was Maajid Nawaz (used to be on LBC). He was a former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir and did some jail time. I'd be far more worried about people who continue spouting their hate and don't change their ways.

[blueg33]

When Labour appointed a previously convicted party member, Badenoch said ex offenders shouldn’t be appointed by political parties.

During Prime Minister's Questions on December 4, 2024, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated: "The country needs conviction politicians, not convicted politicians."

[CambsBill]

Mr Penguin said:

I always thought Crew in this referred to the railway town in Cheshire, but today YouTube recommended me a Time Team video about Crewkerne in Somerset and now I know better.



Very interesting.

This is PH! Crewkerne is of course home to one of the biggest (and best) British-owned car manufacturers left - Ariel

[Gargamel]

butchstewie said:

According to Badenoch she believes in second chances for good people .

This is "good people" is it?

Sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Spencer

Sorry but just no.

How did you feel about Nelson Mandela ? Or Gerry Adams ?

[119]

amusingduck said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/08/04/ba...

He sounds like you, stew! A superturbocharged version of you, but the parallels are there and they bring a wry smile to my face

You voted for UKIP, he started a far-right party.
You saw the error of your ways and now post endless nonsense on NP&E, he saw the error of his ways and now works in anti-extremism

Love you really

Self awareness is somewhat non existent.

Oh wait, but that's different...or something... something...

[Randy Winkman]

Pupp said:

Undoubtedly very slick and polished; superficially amusing in a satirical sense, until the bias becomes obvious. No idea why or who s funding, but I ll pass thanks. Loads won t

I think I watched 2 "episodes" before it became apparent what the bias and message was. Though perhaps I'm showing my own bias a bit? Either way, I wasn't that surprised to find out more about who is behind it.

[butchstewie]

fido said:

"He told the Guardian on Monday that his criminal convictions had been spent and that he held various Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He said he had spoken alongside MPs where he talked about his past and highlighted antisemitism faced by Britain s Jewish community."

People do change their ways. One of my favourite radio presenters was Maajid Nawaz (used to be on LBC). He was a former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir and did some jail time. I'd be far more worried about people who continue spouting their hate and don't change their ways.

I do take that point - and of course being rehabilitated is a good thing - but I'm afraid I can't help but think the bar should be set higher for public life.

The sentencing notes are just nasty. Have you read what he did? This wasn't a "moment of madness" it was a campaign.

I suppose some people will say it's just a minor little council seat - but it's still representing the population of an area not just the ones that voted for you - would you vote for him if you were Jewish?

[Blue62]

blueg33 said:

When Labour appointed a previously convicted party member, Badenoch said ex offenders shouldn t be appointed by political parties.

During Prime Minister's Questions on December 4, 2024, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated: "The country needs conviction politicians, not convicted politicians."

Maybe Kemi has undergone a rehabilitation program and is giving herself a second chance.

It’s a very strange decision, especially given her stance a couple of years ago. So was this guy the only viable candidate or is she gambling that this will pay off with the blue rinse brigade and they’ll come flooding back from Reform?

[Sway]

butchstewie said:

fido said:

"He told the Guardian on Monday that his criminal convictions had been spent and that he held various Home Office counter-extremism certifications. He said he had spoken alongside MPs where he talked about his past and highlighted antisemitism faced by Britain s Jewish community."

People do change their ways. One of my favourite radio presenters was Maajid Nawaz (used to be on LBC). He was a former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir and did some jail time. I'd be far more worried about people who continue spouting their hate and don't change their ways.

I do take that point - and of course being rehabilitated is a good thing - but I'm afraid I can't help but think the bar should be set higher for public life.

The sentencing notes are just nasty. Have you read what he did? This wasn't a "moment of madness" it was a campaign.

I suppose some people will say it's just a minor little council seat - but it's still representing the population of an area not just the ones that voted for you - would you vote for him if you were Jewish?

It's difficult. Few would suggest Mandela wasn't suitable for public office, as an example.

American History X (one of my all time favourite films) is based on a true story - and ultimately lead to a lot of extremists reflecting on their views and changing their ways.

I think there's an element of case by case assessment - but equally I'll be a hypocrite and say I wouldn't feel comfortable with him in Cabinet.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

The hypocrisy is astonishing.

Come on stewie, you are a self confessed Farage-supporting 'kipper. Is it "are", or "were"? Can someone change?

I thought once a sentence had been completed, then that was all forgotten about? At least, that's what we keep getting told about that fraudy MP with the mobile phone theft, sorry, forgotten loss.

Not defending a Nazi piece of st, but just ant to know the logic behind who we are allowed to criticise or not.

[Blue62]

Rusty Old-Banger said:

The hypocrisy is astonishing.

Come on stewie, you are a self confessed Farage-supporting 'kipper. Is it "are", or "were"? Can someone change?

I thought once a sentence had been completed, then that was all forgotten about? At least, that's what we keep getting told about that fraudy MP with the mobile phone theft, sorry, forgotten loss.

Not defending a Nazi piece of st, but just ant to know the logic behind who we are allowed to criticise or not.

Maybe use your own judgement when deciding who to be critical of, rather than seeking permission.

Luciana Berger was his main victim and by all accounts the campaign he waged was disgusting, I simply don’t understand why the Tories selected him, makes no sense.

[timberman]

CambsBill said:

Mr Penguin said:

I always thought Crew in this referred to the railway town in Cheshire, but today YouTube recommended me a Time Team video about Crewkerne in Somerset and now I know better.



Very interesting.

This is PH! Crewkerne is of course home to one of the biggest (and best) British-owned car manufacturers left - Ariel

I used to drive through Crewkerne quite regularly, I must have driven past the Ariel site dozens of times before I even realised it was there

[Mr Penguin]

Blue62 said:

Maybe use your own judgement when deciding who to be critical of, rather than seeking permission.

Luciana Berger was his main victim and by all accounts the campaign he waged was disgusting, I simply don t understand why the Tories selected him, makes no sense.

I can understand why she is against it but generally we don't allow victims to control sentencing and punishment etc because they are never going to view it objectively and would often never allow criminals to come back to civilised society.

[SpeckledJim]

Foolish misstep by Badenoch.

Every reason to make a hard-pass on his application, and very little reward for accepting it. This is just handing out cudgels to her opponents.