December 11, 2011

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

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

URGENT: AN EDL MEMBER HAS BOASTED ON FACEBOOK THAT HE HAS PLANTED A BOMB UNDERNEATH BIRMINGHAM MOSQUE: -

http://twitpic.com/7s2ezz

PLEASE REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE

Jail The EDL Neo-Nazis said...

One of Yaxley's close comrades - Ross william michael "english" - has today posted a bomb threat on twitter, inviting the police to arrest him.

Any ex-fascists know who this loser is, to help get him banged up for a five year stretch in jail??????

NewsHound said...

BREAKING NEWS: EDL BIRMINGHAM BOMB SCARE:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/11/1044353/-English-Anti-Islamic-Group-Member-Spreads-Bomb-Threat-on-Facebook?via=sidebar

IF ISLAMIC TERRORISTS CAN GET JAILED FOR MAKING SIMILAR THREATS, PRISON AWAITS THIS WHITE SUPREMACIST EDL TERRORIST!

misterfox said...

He must know what his friends are like and to go abroad on a stag night shows him to either agree with them or be completely stupid. The man is a fool who will now show how craven he is by grovelling to save his career.

Anonymous said...

Tory MP regrets getting caught, more like.

NewsHound said...

LATEST NEWS: LEICESTER UNITES AGAINST THE FAR RIGHT: -

http://www.leicesteruaf.org/2011/12/11/anti-fascists-and-trade-unionists-stand-against-the-edl-in-leicester/

Landale said...

@Anonymous said...

Agree completely - Exactly - he regrets getting caught. Tory thicko!

In my experience there's more than a few Tories who could be best described as Nazis, then there is a large lump of them who are seriously thick or selfish.

If the Tories want to peddle their ideas they need to sort out this group of trash.

On FB Robert Levy commented "This Nazi toasting crap has happened a few times lately amongst partying Tories .The left has been accused of being anti-semitic in the past due to a general tendency to campaign for rights for Palestinians..never though have I heard anything anti-semitic from the left at any gathering..criticisms of Israel yes..praising of Nazism definitely not.This Tory-Nazi fest is ugly and shows that the Really Nasty Party is as nasty as ever."

Anonymous said...

One of Yaxley's close comrades - Ross william michael "english" - has today posted a bomb threat on twitter, inviting the police to arrest him.

Yaxley will have a word with his Special Branch liason officer and everything will be smoothed over.

Anonymous said...

He seems to know some of these people quite well but still associates with them.

There is no evidence that he left these events in protest about what was going on.

Regrets being found out by the looks of it.