
Staffordshire MP Aidan Burley has been sacked from his role in the Department of Transport despite apologising for attending a stag party where the groom dressed as a Nazi and toasts were made to the policies of Hitler.
The Conservative MP for Cannock Chase, who it is alleged had hired the uniform, had expressed 鈥渄eep regret鈥 at the 鈥渋nappropriate鈥 actions of guests with whom he partied at a French ski resort.
But he was removed from his post as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Transport Secretary Justine Greening after fresh allegations were made linking him to the behaviour.
The Mail on Sunday, which exposed the party a week ago, said it had new information about the episode, claiming that Mr Burley had in fact hired the SS costume for the groom.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: 鈥淎idan Burley has behaved in a manner which is offensive and foolish.
鈥淭hat is why he is being removed from his post as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Transport. In light of information received the Prime Minister has asked for a fuller investigation into the matter to be set up and to report to him.鈥
The Cannock Chase MP, who was elected in 2010 and seen as one of the rising stars of the party, issued an 鈥渦nreserved, wholehearted and fulsome apology鈥 over the party in a letter to the Jewish Chronicle earlier this week.
One of his friends donned a replica SS officer鈥檚 uniform and another guest reportedly toasted the 鈥渋deology and thought processes鈥 of Adolf Hitler鈥檚 regime.
In the letter he said he wished he had left the stag party.
鈥淲hat was happening was wrong and I should have completely dissociated myself from it," he wrote. "I had a choice, and I made the wrong choice not to leave. I apologise for this error of judgment.鈥
The Mail on Sunday said it had evidence that Mr Burley was aware of what was planned as he had hired the Nazi uniform worn by his friend.
Shadow transport minister John Woodcock, who is also chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said: 鈥淚t speaks volumes about David Cameron鈥檚 judgment that he dithered for a week before taking action against his MP.
鈥淧eople will rightly conclude he was more concerned with avoiding another round of bad stories than the gross offence caused by this repugnant behaviour.
鈥淣ow Aidan Burley must confirm whether it is true that he actually hired the SS uniform worn by his friend, as claimed today.
鈥淓vidence that he was actually at the centre of events would be at odds with his apology claiming he failed to walk away from the party when he realised what was happening, and would leave him with extremely serious questions to answer.鈥
Mr Burley also came under fire from union boss Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, who said he should be expelled from the Conservative Party.
鈥淎s far as the RMT is concerned it鈥檚 good riddance to wannabe union buster Aidan Burley whose dodgy mates tell us all we need to know about the modern Tory party,鈥 he said.
鈥淭reating the Nazis as some kind of sick joke isn鈥檛 just an error of judgment, it renders him unfit for public office and Cameron should have the guts to boot him out of the party.鈥