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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| McCanns' anger at Tory activist | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kate and Gerry McCann have condemned a Conservative activist who boasted about dressing up as Madeleine McCann at a party, calling his actions "offensive". | Kate and Gerry McCann have condemned a Conservative activist who boasted about dressing up as Madeleine McCann at a party, calling his actions "offensive". |
| Matthew Lewis has been expelled from the party after telling friends of his planned exploits at a New Year party. | Matthew Lewis has been expelled from the party after telling friends of his planned exploits at a New Year party. |
| Tory chairman Caroline Spelman said the actions of Mr Lewis, a member of the young activist group Conservative Future, were "completely unacceptable". | Tory chairman Caroline Spelman said the actions of Mr Lewis, a member of the young activist group Conservative Future, were "completely unacceptable". |
| Five-year Madeleine disappeared in 2007 during a family holiday in Portugal. | Five-year Madeleine disappeared in 2007 during a family holiday in Portugal. |
| 'Intolerable' | 'Intolerable' |
| Despite a worldwide hunt, there has been no trace of her since. | Despite a worldwide hunt, there has been no trace of her since. |
| Mr Lewis, who is believed to studying in London, told friends on the Facebook website that he planned to attend a party dressed as Madeleine McCann. | Mr Lewis, who is believed to studying in London, told friends on the Facebook website that he planned to attend a party dressed as Madeleine McCann. |
| He said his costume would include "pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood". | He said his costume would include "pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood". |
| This offensive behaviour is not only shocking but intolerable and completely unacceptable Caroline Spelman | This offensive behaviour is not only shocking but intolerable and completely unacceptable Caroline Spelman |
| After the party, Mr Lewis used the website to tell another Conservative Future member that "there was a brief moment when I thought I might have gone too far with elements of the costume but it was OK". | After the party, Mr Lewis used the website to tell another Conservative Future member that "there was a brief moment when I thought I might have gone too far with elements of the costume but it was OK". |
| Mr Lewis was listed by Conservative Future as its branch chairman in Staffordshire although he is reported to have resigned from the position last month. | |
| Staffordshire Conservative Future's website now lists the post of chairman as "vacant". | |
| He was pictured campaigning alongside Tory leader David Cameron during last year's Crewe and Nantwich by-election. | He was pictured campaigning alongside Tory leader David Cameron during last year's Crewe and Nantwich by-election. |
| A spokesman for the McCanns said his actions were "offensive almost beyond belief". | A spokesman for the McCanns said his actions were "offensive almost beyond belief". |
| Kate and Gerry McCann are demanding an apology | |
| "His actions are not only disgraceful in themselves, they will also cause great hurt to Kate and Gerry," he said. | "His actions are not only disgraceful in themselves, they will also cause great hurt to Kate and Gerry," he said. |
| "It is a complete disgrace that Madeleine's name and image should be made fun of in this way." | "It is a complete disgrace that Madeleine's name and image should be made fun of in this way." |
| But the spokesman praised the "swift and appropriate" action taken by the Conservatives against Mr Lewis. | But the spokesman praised the "swift and appropriate" action taken by the Conservatives against Mr Lewis. |
| It is understood Mr Lewis is to make a "full and unreserved" apology to the McCanns, which the Conservatives hope will draw a line under the incident. | It is understood Mr Lewis is to make a "full and unreserved" apology to the McCanns, which the Conservatives hope will draw a line under the incident. |
| In a statement, Conservative Central Office said there was "no place for this sort of person in the party". | In a statement, Conservative Central Office said there was "no place for this sort of person in the party". |
| "This offensive behaviour is not only shocking but intolerable and completely unacceptable," Mrs Spelman said. | "This offensive behaviour is not only shocking but intolerable and completely unacceptable," Mrs Spelman said. |