dressing up as Madeleine

Is that not the most ****ed up thing you have ever heard?

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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090110/tuk-mccann-anger-over-tory-fancy-dress-6323e80.html

A leading Tory youth activist has been condemned by Kate and Gerry McCann after dressing up as their missing daughter Madeleine at a New Year's party.

Conservative Future (CF) member Matthew Lewis was criticised by the family after bragging about the stunt on his Facebook site.

He was expelled from the party and criticised by Conservative chairman Caroline Spelman when his comments were picked up. Later he issued a statement to the media apologising "unreservedly" to the McCanns.
"I completely regret my behaviour that night and since, and cannot express how sorry I am for the incredible hurt I have caused," he said. "Whilst my actions were not meant to be malicious, I fully understand the pain they have brought."

Mr Lewis attracted criticism after writing on Facebook that his Madeleine McCann costume had included a blonde wig, "pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood". Other figures from Conservative Future joined in the joke, with one responding: "Is this a cunning (Baldrick style) plan to obtain the reward money?"


Ms Spelman branded Mr Lewis's behaviour "totally unacceptable" and confirmed he had been expelled from the party. "This offensive behaviour is not only shocking but intolerable and completely unacceptable," she said. "There is no place for this sort of person in the party."
The party is also understood to be examining whether action should be taken against other CF members involved. Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, earlier called for Mr Lewis to issue a public and private apology to the family.

"The offensiveness of this activist's actions is almost beyond belief," he said.
"I know Gerry and Kate will be grateful that the Tory party has taken swift and appropriate action by ejecting him from the party. His actions are not only disgraceful in themselves, they will also cause great hurt to Kate and Gerry. I feel it is appropriate that he now apologises both privately and publicly to them. It is a complete disgrace that Madeleine's name and image should be made fun of in this way."

Mr Lewis - believed to be in his early 20s and a student at Queen Mary, University of London - resigned as chairman of Staffordshire CF last month in protest at internal reforms. Images on the group's website show him campaigning with David Cameron for last year's Crewe and Nantwich by-election.

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