Downfall: spoof SNP video costs Labour MP Tom Harris his job
Tom Harris has stood down from his social media role after uploading the video, below, to YouTube
A Labour MP and social media strategist has stepped down after posting a comedy video that appeared to compare First Minister Alex Salmond with Adolf Hitler.
Tom Harris, who came third in the Scottish Labour leadership race last year, had been given the role of carrying out a review of Labour’s online operations by new party chief Johann Lamont.
Mr Harris has apologised for posting the video, which superimposed satirical subtitles referring to the SNP and Mr Salmond onto footage of actor Bruno Ganz playing the character of Hitler in German from the 2004 film Downfall.
The video was attacked as “tasteless” by the SNP. However, the same footage has been used to mock a number of well-known names in recent years, including former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Mr Harris’s particular version was entitled ‘Joan’s Downfall’, in reference to SNP MSP Joan McAlpine’s recent “anti-Scottish” Twitter jibe against her Labour and Liberal Democrat peers.
Mr Harris, Labour MP for Glasgow South, said: “Having spoken to Johann, 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.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “Tom Harris did the decent thing after a lapse of judgment.
“It is about time that Joan McAlpine does the right thing and apologises for her much more serious error of judgment in saying that anyone who opposes the SNP is anti-Scottish.
“By her own logic, she must see that she regards the majority of Scots as anti-Scottish.
“If she doesn’t do the decent thing then Alex Salmond should sack her as ministerial aide.”
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.”
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Comments
There are 125 comments to this article
Page 1 of 9
Broon Bairn
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:19 AMIt was Labour who got rid of Tom Harris, not the SNP. The SNP responded in a measured, low-key manner, and didn't foam at the mouth. As others have said, if it had been the SNP who'd made this video, Labour would have been apopleptic with synthetic outrage.
abdles
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 07:55 AMI am a supporter of the SNP but cannot see the problem. I know some people will be offended by this but they shouldn't be. Taking the mickey out of a political opponent doesn't take away from the millions killed in the war, two different things. The move this clip came from should be accused of the same lack of respect by using Hitler in a movie for entertainment. Tom Harris is a clown and the Labour party are welcome to him; but a clown with a sense of humour. His leadership election blog was a good read, quite funny. People need to get a sense of perspective. Political correctness needs to be fought at every opportunity.
Brit-free
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 01:35 AMTom Harris internet czar ? HA HA HA .........his leadership bid was so out of touch with current political realities in Scotland that you would think he hardly spends any more time in the country .than he absolutely needs to ...he was typical of the bulk of labourite second raters , in imagining that for the people of Scotland , Wastemonster is still a cut above the " third raters " in Holyrood ......when as anybody who lives here knows .....Tom Harris ? M P for whaaaaaa ? .....they are practically invisible now ......i know who they are because i bother to find out .....but you could show ...fr'instance ...Brian Donahoes picture to the vast majority of punters .....and they wouldnt have a scooby , yet they rush down there at the very first sign of a vacancy ....they are almost indescribably numb from the neck up, i know ......but even the most primitve forms of life have the instinct in some degree to move towards their optimum enviroment ....Not Scottish labourites it seems
Jimmy the Pie
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 01:00 AMHey Dolphin, if it had been an SNP MP who'd done the video would you have been laughing then,Hey Dolphin, if it had been an SNP MP who'd done the video would you have been laughing then? Unionism and hypocrisy seem to go hand in hand.
Willie Boy
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:49 AMHitler and the nazi party was a period in European history when millions died in gas chambers and this clown thinks it's a joke. Well Tom Harris you are scum and you should be forced to speak to the victims of the death camps and tell them your little. joke. Yes, and your party are scum too.
davidjames
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:22 AMPending Moderation
Kennedy Clan
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:19 AMWasn't it nice of Tom to give Johann Lamont two name checks in his statement. This demonstrates the real target of his video - and it was neither Alex Salmond nor Joan McAlpine. The benefit of social media is that it allows Labour to demonstrate to a wider audience how their factionalism and visceral hatred for the SNP distorts their political choices. They are now locked into the Douglas Home strategy 'Vote No and we'll deliver something better'. Everyone knows Labour is lying, because without Westminster's support they can't deliver - keep it up guys, oblivion beckons, just like the Tories.
davidjames
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:09 AMPending Moderation
davidjames
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:08 AMPending Moderation
davidjames
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:07 AMPending Moderation
Maurice the Dolphin
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:12 PMI actually thought it was quite a funny video, the majority of those on youtube are funny. Chortling at the Cyber Nats foaming at the mouth calling for resignations as well, quite amusing considering some of the pash they type on here on a daily basis! Arf, Arf, Af.
Snecker
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:11 PMWell done Tom Harris for lightening the debate a little and giving us a laugh. If this is what's to come under the reborn Calvinists of the P.C. Brigade then there's not much hope. We're all doomed; doomed I tell you !
Maurice the Dolphin
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:09 PM#102, Feeling left out this time wee Wardoggie Newlands? Your a fine one to talk about internet campaigns.
wl
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:05 PMHe should be expelled from the labour-unionist party and the "Scottish" labour party.
Jambo 25
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:49 PMEarlier on today it was reported on Sky that Harris was got rid off by express request of Es Miliband. The reasoning was that Harris had been a major supporter of brother Dave during the Labour leadership election and this is now Ed's revenge.
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