Labour MP stands down after Nazi film spoof
A Labour MP has stepped down from his role as the party’s Twitter czar in Scotland after he created an online video portraying SNP leader Alex Salmond as Hitler.
Glasgow South MP Tom Harris posted a video entitled Joan’s Downfall, a parody of the 2004 German film Downfall, which chronicles the final days of Adolf Hitler.
The accompanying subtitles portray Mr Salmond as Hitler, and mock recent comments by SNP MSP Joan McAlpine that Labour and the Liberal Democrats are “anti-Scottish”.
Mr Harris said: “Having spoken to Johann Lamont (the Scottish Labour leader), I have decided to step down from leading the party’s social media review.
“The video I posted has been a well-worn joke used to parody a range of public figures.
“However context is everything and in the context of Johann’s and my desire to improve the level of political debate on social media and the context of Joan McAlpine’s much more serious statements about all political opponents of the SNP being anti-Scottish, my actions have been an unhelpful distraction for which I apologise.”
The video begins by depicting Nazi party members arranging Mr Salmond’s post-independence “coronation” on the Stone of Destiny, the traditional coronation seat of Scottish kings, with subtitles stating that the stone will have to be “widened and strengthened” for the event.
An SNP spokeswoman said: “Across Scotland people want a debate on independence and the options for Scotland’s future that focuses on the issue of how we can go about making Scotland better.
“It is silly, negative nonsense like this that helps explain why Labour are in the doldrums in Scotland.
“It is hugely embarrassing for Labour that one of their MPs and a leadership contender – who should have better things to do with his time – is promoting tasteless stuff like this through his official MP website.”
Cannes bans director Von Trier after Nazi comments
Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced that revellers playing a Nazi-themed drinking game used anti-Semitic language when talking to a 21-year-old Jewish student at LSE, and broke his nose on a night out in the Alpine resort of Val d’Isere.
The fight is said to have occurred when the student took offence at other members of his group playing a game called “Nazi Ring of Fire”, involving cards arranged in the shape of a swastika.
“These are disturbing allegations relating to events which took place on a foreign trip organised by the Students Union,” said an LSE spokeswoman.
“Both the SU (Students’ Union) and LSE are investigating these events and are prepared to take disciplinary action if the allegations are shown to be true.”
The alleged assault comes after French authorities launched an investigation into a Nazi-themed party attended by Conservative MP Aidan Burley, who was sacked as a parliamentary aide amid the furore.
Reports suggest that one of the 12 friends attending wore a replica SS officer’s uniform, while another toasted the third reich and there were chants of “Himmler, Himmler, Himmler” at the party in Val Thorens, around 90km (56 miles) from Val d’Isere.
Under French law it is a crime to wear uniforms, insignia or emblems linked to the Nazi regime, unless they are being used for a film, play or historical exhibition.