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Bear Grylls appeared to break the rules of the Scout Association today when he appeared on stage at Conservative Party Conference in his Chief Scout uniform.

The TV survival expert, whose father was a Conservative MP, faced a furious backlash from fans and Scouts for his speech alongside two young members.

He made a pitch for £50 million in Government funding, telling the Tory Party conference: "If you ignore young people, you perish."

But the Scout Association rulebook explicitly bans members from taking part in party political events while in uniform.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: "The Scouts' rulebook says members shouldn't take part in political events while in uniform

"Bear Grylls seems to have broken those rules. But since Theresa May finds herself in the political wilderness perhaps she wanted him close at hand."

Rule 14.1 of the Policy, Organisation and Rules states: “Members of the Movement in uniform, or individuals when acting as representatives of the Movement, must not take part in any party political meetings or activities that endorse any particular political party or candidate.”

A spokesperson for the Association denied it had broken its own rules.

(Image: REUTERS)

He said: “We believe that neither the Chief Scout, nor the young people accompanying him broke the Association’s rules. They did not endorse a political party or a political candidate.

“The Scout Movement attended both the Labour and Conservative conferences this year as it has done in previous years to engage with politicians of different views.

“The purpose of the young people’s appearance today was to highlight Scouting’s work, bringing young people together from all backgrounds and helping them develop skills for life. The Chief Scout appealed for further funding from the government to reduce our waiting list of 55,000 young people. We're proud to champion young people from all backgrounds and stand against demonising any one community”

While the Scout Movement did hold events at both Labour and Tory conference, Grylls did not personally appear at the Labour conference in Brighton.

Grylls was later forced to defend his appearance on the stage in the face of a furious online backlash.

(Image: REUTERS)

Fans and scouts took to social media to vent their distaste for his appearance.

Many comparing it to President Donald Trump’s ill-advised speech to the National Scout Jamboree, for which the organisation - which is separate to the UK Scout movement - was forced to apologise.

One said “I’ve gone right off Bear Grylls.”

Another said: “Didn’t Donald Trump do this and got slated for bringing politics into it? Scouts, how can you let this happen?”

In an Instagram post, Grylls wrote: “For the record: I was not there as a member of any political party but simply to champion Scouts in seeking Government help to reach the toughest communities and most isolated young people in the country.

(Image: PA)

“Together we can do this. As I said: “fight for what we believe in and never give up!”

“Scouting provides purpose, pride, community and adventure to those that most need it. “

He thanked the two young Scouts, Jack and Ferdous, for appearing alongside him.

Ex-special forces soldier Grylls was made Chief Scout, the organisation’s public face, in 2009.

His father Sir Michael Grylls, was a Conservative MP who was implicated in the 1990s ‘Cash for Questions’ scandal.