A FORMER neonazi convicted for harassing a Jewish MP has been selected to stand for the Tories in a local election in Somerset.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine claimed the Conservative local branch and the national party were “fully aware of his past” after being picked on Monday for the council election in a new Crewkerne South district.

“Our chairman has been a vocal advocate and has supported me since I became a member of the party. I am very grateful for the support,” he told the Guardian.

“The branch and indeed party are fully aware of my past,” he said, explaining that he was an executive member of the Conservatives’ Yeovil branch.

Mr Bonehill-Paine recently became known for creating a satirical online account named Crewkerne Gazette, mainly featuring AI-made clips which were often complimentary of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

Conservative Party whip Rebecca Harris drew criticism earlier this year for sharing a video made by the account, after its creator had already been revealed.

Mr Bonehill-Paine has previously described himself as a “nationalist, fascist, theorist and supporter of white rights” and was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after he posted antisemitic content online before a neonazi rally.

He also has a conviction for assaulting a police officer and burglary of a police station.

Mr Bonehill-Paine was convicted once more in 2014 of malicious communications related to an Islamophobic hoax, leading to death threats against a pub owner in Leicester.

He was found guilty in 2016 of racially aggravated harassment for abuse aimed at a Jewish former Labour MP Luciana Berger, after he posted messages on his blog calling her a “rodent” and an “evil money-grabber.”

The local Tory candidate was also the founder and leader of the far-right National British Resistance group.

The Conservative Party was approached for comment.