MP Aidan Burley sacked after 'Nazi' party guest photo

A Conservative MP has been sacked as a parliamentary private secretary over "offensive and foolish" behaviour.

Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley was pictured in the Mail on Sunday last week with a man dressed as a Nazi SS officer at a stag party in France.

Mr Burley said subsequently he "deeply regretted" what had happened.

But the Conservative Party said the MP was being removed from his post and it was launching a fuller investigation "in light of information received".

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Aidan Burley has behaved in a manner which is offensive and foolish.

"That 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."

After the Mail on Sunday's original article last week, Mr Burley issued a statement saying he was sorry for any offence caused and tweeted an apology.

"There was clearly inappropriate behaviour by some of the other guests and I deeply regret that this happened. I am extremely sorry for any offence that will undoubtedly have been caused," he said.

Mr Burley also wrote to the Jewish Chronicle, offering an "unreserved, wholehearted and fulsome apology".

He said that he wished he had left the stag party earlier.

"What was happening was wrong and I should have completely dissociated myself from it. I had a choice, and I made the wrong choice not to leave. I apologise for this error of judgment."

For Labour, shadow transport minister John Woodcock, who is also chairman of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "It speaks volumes about David Cameron's judgement that he dithered for a week before taking action against his MP."