McCanns want apology over 'joke'

Jan 9 2009

The family of Madeleine McCann demanded a public apology from a leading Tory youth activist after he bragged about dressing up as the missing girl at a New Year's party.

A spokesman for the five-year-old's parents, Kate and Gerry, said Matthew Lewis had been "offensive almost beyond belief" in making fun of their agony.

The Conservative Future (CF) member wrote on his Facebook site that his costume included a blonde wig, "pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood". Other figures from the organisation joined in the joke, with one responding: "Is this a cunning (Baldrick style) plan to obtain the reward money?"

Tory chairman Caroline 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, praised the Conservatives' "swift and appropriate" steps against Mr Lewis. But he went on: "The offensiveness of this activist's actions is almost beyond belief.

"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 was not answering his mobile phone, but most of the exchanges remained visible on his Facebook profile until late on Friday afternoon. Page snapshots showing other comments were featured on the Tory Bear blog.

On New Year's Day, after the party, Mr Lewis told another CF member, Flick Cox, online: "There was a brief moment when I thought I might have gone too far with elements of the costume, but it was ok." He added that another guest at the bash was dressed as Baby P, the toddler who died after a catalogue of horrific abuse.