So that's cleared things up.
Ukip candidate Alex Wood wasn't making a Nazi salute at all, he was, of course, trying to stop his girlfriend taking photos of him "imitating a pot plant".
The original 'salute' image posted on Alex Wood's Facebook
Nigel Farage, the eurosceptic party's leader, offered the bizarre explanation in a blog for The Huffington Post UK.
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It looks like Mr Farage is satisfied, and 22-year-old Wood is set for a reprieve before Thursday's local elections.
But Twitter wasn't convinced, with the hashtag #Ukipexcuses trending and offering some alternative explanations for the suspicious pose.
Twitter excuses brought to life
See above for some of the best offerings, and below for how they might have looked.