Tory MP regrets stag party's Nazi toasts, SS costumes and waiter taunts

Aidan Burley, Cannock Chase MP, filmed with ski resort friends who used thick German accents to 'toast' Third Reich

A Conservative MP who attended a party where friends allegedly chanted Nazi slogans and dressed up in SS uniforms, has apologised for "any offence that was caused" at the event.

Aidan Burley used the social networking site, Twitter, to say he did "deeply regret inappropriate behaviour by some guests at a stag party" he attended and was "extremely sorry for any offence that was caused".

The apology, posted at 12.30pm on Sunday, was sent to the MP's 385 followers but was picked up by the Twitter community and passed around to many others. It failed, however, to assuage those outraged by his behaviour, with many continuing to call for his sacking and resignation.

The 32-year-old Cannock Chase MP was dining at a restaurant in the ski resort of Val Thorens, at Savoie, in the French Alps. Some of his 12 friends in the restaurant chanted "Hitler, Hitler, Hitler", according to the Mail on Sunday.

The paper claimed that the MP, who was elected in 2010, sipped wine while at least one man sitting near him goaded a French waiter, asking: "You are from Germany? No, you must be from Austria, then?" and "Are you insulting his Reich?"

Burley was filmed raising his glass in a toast before, the paper claimed, another guest beside him made a speech, in which he said: "Let's raise a toast to Tom for organising the stag do, and if we're perfectly honest, to the ideology and thought process of the Third Reich."

The party was said to have moved on to a British-themed pub, where partygoers adopted thick German accents and chanted: "Mein Fuhrer! Mein Fuhrer! Mein Fuhrer!", "Himmler! Himmler! Himmler!" and "Eichmann! Eichmann! Eichmann!"

The paper quoted a French police spokesman who said that Burley's friends could face prosecution: under the French penal code it is a crime to wear or exhibit in public anything reminiscent of what was worn or used by the Nazis, unless required for the purposes of a film, play or historical exhibition. The spokesman added: "Anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi crimes are taken extremely seriously in France. Anyone suspected of breaking the law in this respect can and will be prosecuted."

Burley, a rising star in the Conservative party and senior aide to the transport secretary, Justine Greening, was thought to be close friends with the man who wore the SS uniform – Mark Fournier, 34, an accountant and graduate of Queen's College, Oxford University, for whom the stag party was held.

Fournier, the paper added, was frequently addressed by the others as "Himmler". His brother, John Fournier, 37, a businessman, gave the toast. Later, the elder brother gave another speech, saying of Burley: "This man is a Tory MP. He went to Oxford as well. A Tory boy. He was the candidate for Berlin East."

Burley, who was said to be standing a few feet away, was not seen to object to any of the speeches or the actions of his friends, the paper claimed.

The Guardian

Tory candidate quits after race row

Tory Nigel Hastilow has resigned as a Parliamentary candidate after declaring that Enoch Powell was "right" when he gave his notorious "Rivers of Blood" anti-immigration speech. Mr Hastilow stepped down after being summoned to a meeting with Tory party chairwoman Caroline Spelman to explain the comments he made in a newspaper column.

He said: "I am very sorry that any remarks of mine have undermined the progress David Cameron has made on the issue of immigration, as on so many other issues."

A Conservative spokeswoman confirmed the party had accepted his resignation as the candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis. Mr Hastilow said it was "with regret" that he had tendered his resignation but added the party would have his support for the future.

It is the second time Mr Hastilow, a former editor of the Birmingham Post, has courted controversy while a would-be MP. In 2001 he said the Tories under William Hague were seen as a "lost cause" with an unpopular leader. In his column for the Express and Star newspaper in Wolverhampton - where Mr Powell was MP at the time of the 1968 speech - Mr Hastilow wrote: "When you ask most people in the Black Country what the single biggest problem facing the country is, most say immigration. Many insist: 'Enoch Powell was right'. Enoch, once MP for Wolverhampton South-West, was sacked from the Conservative front bench and marginalised politically for his 1968 'rivers of blood' speech, warning that uncontrolled immigration would change our country irrevocably. He was right. It has changed dramatically."

He also wrote: "They have more or less given up complaining about the way we roll out the red carpet for foreigners while leaving the locals to fend for themselves."

Cabinet minister Peter Hain said Mr Hastilow's comments had revealed the "racist underbelly" of the Tory party.

Guardian

Wales: Party leaders pledge to ‘keep a welcome’ for refugees and asylum seekers

Churches have welcomed show of unity from the four political parties in Wales to pledge to improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers.

All four party leaders have launched a manifesto for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Wales ahead of the Assembly elections in May. Called “We’ll keep a welcome’, the manifesto includes five key pledges that will improve the lives of refugees and asylum seekers, whoever eventually succeeds at the elections.

The five pledges are:

1 Welcoming people seeking safety from persecution by ensuring that candidates won’t campaign negatively on refugee and asylum issues.

2 Empowering refugees to rebuild their lives by ensuring that young refugees and asylum seekers have equal access to further education, and that funding for English classes continues.

3 Providing fair and equal access to services by providing access to healthcare for asylum seekers, whatever the status of their claim.

4 Protecting children and young people by developing a specialist advocacy service to look after their needs.

5 Developing a strong evidence base to better inform service provision in Wales and help communities work together.

Niall Cooper, Church Action on Poverty said: “The people of Wales have a proud history of giving refuge to people fleeing persecution and poverty. Migrants who have arrived as refugees have been amongst those who have made the most impact on society and the economy. Our sense [of] social justice means we provide a safety net for all on these islands, no matter who they are. We look forward to all the candidates and parties supporting the Manifesto in the Election Campaign and the elected candidates, in office.”

Rev Aled Eirug, Chief Executive of Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales and Chair of the Welsh Refugee Council said: “I am so grateful that the party leaders in Wales have been able to set aside party politics to come together and make a real difference to people’s lives.

“All the organisations who work with refugees and asylum seekers in Wales are pleased that the politicians have shown a determination to do something about the conditions faced by vulnerable people when they come to Wales – people who make such a positive contribution to our communities.”

The next stage in the campaign will see all candidates in the Assembly Elections being asked to commit their support and carry a pledge card. More information, and a list of candidates supporting the campaign can be found at www.keepawelcome.co.uk

Inspire

Partners

The following organisations have worked together to prepare the Manifesto:

Amnesty International
Asylum Justice
Cardiff Asylum Seeker Support Group
Children in Wales
Church Action on Poverty
Commission for Race Equality
Cytûn – Churches Together in Wales
Displaced People in Action
Newport and District Refugee Support Group
Oxfam
Refugee Voice Wales
Save the Children
Swansea Bay Asylum Seeker Support Group
Welsh Refugee Council

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