MP Aidan Burley must now prove his worth

Those are not our words, but the verdict of his own party, which investigated his conduct in the run-up to and during the now infamous event in the French Alps two years ago.

Mr Burley has had a long time to reflect on it while the groom, Mark Fournier, was prosecuted by the French authorities and fined because wearing a Nazi uniform is a crime in their country.

That is not the case in Britain because the Nazis did not march through our streets the way they did in occupied France.

• Aidan Burley: I did buy the Nazi uniform

Aidan Burley, who turns 35 today, is of a generation that was able to laugh at and mock the Nazis by watching television comedies such as 'Allo 'Allo.

But there is a fine line between humour and offence and Mr Burley clearly crossed it.

The fact that he was already a serving Conservative MP does him no favours.

His purchase of the costume was planned in advance, with others, and were they not caught by a newspaper reporter with the groom wearing the costume and giving Nazi salutes, nothing would have been said.

Mr Burley apologised at the time. He apologises again today in an interview with the Express & Star.

What has caused concern for many is the confirmation today that it was Mr Burley who bought the SS uniform.

He made no mention of that two years ago when he sent an apology to the Jewish Chronicle.

The investigation into his friend and the decision by the Conservatives to hold on to the report until the French court had concluded its work has meant this incident has followed Aidan

Burley through most of his Parliamentary career, a career that started with Mr Burley winning the biggest swing to the Tories anywhere in the country and being seen as a rising star.

He is fortunate that fixed-term Parliaments mean he has a further 16 months before the next General Election. He must use this time wisely to win back the support he has lost and prove that he is truly worthy of the important office he holds.