# Badenoch defends letting man jailed for antisemitism run for council

Kemi Badenoch has defended a local party decision to allow a man previously jailed for antisemitic offenses to stand as a Conservative councillor. The move has sparked criticism, raising questions about the party's handling of antisemitism under her leadership.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/05/kemi-badenoch-conservatives-joshua-bonehill-paine-somerset-councillor) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:37:19 GMT