Row over Euro 'Hitler' advert grows
A nationalist SDLP Assembly member was today told he needed a “humour transplant” as the row intensified over a controversial cinema advert against the euro.
Democratic Unionist MLA Sammy Wilson sprung to the defence of an advert against the single currency which was being screened in Northern Ireland cinemas for the first time today containing a controversial parody of Adolf Hitler.
SDLP Assembly member Alban Maginness yesterday labelled the anti-euro advert “tasteless” and “offensive,” demanding a scene featuring comedian Rik Mayall dressed as the Nazi dictator be cut.
The 90-second star studded film, which also features Sir Bob Geldof, Vic Reeves, Harry Enfield and Northern Ireland-born Labour MP Kate Hoey, features Rik Mayall as Hitler addressing a crowd with the slogan: “Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Euro!”
However Mr Wilson claimed the parody “rightly pointed out” that the single currency, if adopted by the United Kingdom, would be “ruled by dictators from Brussels and Strasbourg”.
The East Belfast MLA insisted: “If anyone ever had any doubt that Alban Maginness of the SDLP required a humour transplant, he has confirmed it by his outrageous reaction to the new cinema advert screened by the anti-Euro campaign.
“The skit by well known comedians uses the powerful medium of humour to make an important political point about the loss of national identity and sovereignty.
“It is also a useful reminder that the first suggestion of a European currency came from Nazi Germany and was seen as a means of establishing German economic control over the countries the Germans conquered in Europe.”
Mr Maginness said yesterday the Hitler scene in the anti-euro film should be “condemned by all decent people”.
The North Belfast MLA, whose party is a strong supporter of the single currency, also called on Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Government to embark on a “robust” pro-euro campaign instead of leaving the door open to the anti-euro lobby.
“With a large agri-food sector here, the majority of our goods are exported through Europe.
“If we remain outside the eurozone we will continue to be at risk of losing the export and tourism trade and we will continue to suffer the effects of exchange rate fluctuation and be unable to price competitively against single currency members.”
The anti-euro advert caused controversy when it was screened in England.
It is being screened in Northern Ireland cinemas over the next fortnight before the Nicolas Cage war movie, Windtalkers.
It is first time the advert has been screened in a part of the UK which shares a land border with a country which is a member of the eurozone.
Mr Wilson said today pro-euro campaigners knew they were not winning the argument.
The Democratic Unionist MLA continued: “Consumers know that they have been ripped off right across Europe as a result of the introduction of the euro.
“The price transparency which the europhiles claimed would lead to uniformly low prices across the EU has not occurred and already the tensions caused by loss of national economic independence are becoming apparent.
“The euro is bad news and even the humorous message used to convey the message has failed to make the down at the mouth europhiles laugh.”
