Kemi Badenoch defended the decision to allow a former antisemitic internet troll to stand as a Conservative council candidate after a Labour peer he harassed warned he should not “have any role in public life”. Mr Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016, after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment against Baroness Luciana Berger, who is Jewish. This is a man that engaged and indulged in a sustained campaign, not just against me, but many others.” Mrs Badenoch told Today she understood Lady Berger’s position but added: “I think what Luciana is talking about is not rehabilitation but forgiveness. Mr Bonehill-Paine is the man behind the viral satirical website the Crewkerne Gazette.