Can someone be more brainless?

A leading Tory youth activist has been condemned by Kate and Gerry McCann after dressing up as their missing daughter Madeleine at a New Year's party.

Conservative Future (CF) member Matthew Lewis was criticised by the family after bragging about the stunt on his Facebook site.

He was expelled from the party and criticised by Conservative chairman Caroline Spelman when his comments were picked up. Later he issued a statement to the media apologising "unreservedly" to the McCanns.

Mr Lewis attracted criticism after writing on Facebook that his Madeleine McCann costume had included a blonde wig, "pink pyjamas, a teddy bear and a vial of fake blood". Other figures from Conservative Future joined in the joke, with one responding: "Is this a cunning (Baldrick style) plan to obtain the reward money?"

Madeline McCann was kidnapped more than an year ago, at the age of 4, and is still missing.