Labour MP Tom Harris has quit his post as the party's new media adviser after posting video comparing the comments of an SNP MSP to the last days of Hitler.

The three minute youtube video, which spoofs the 2004 film Downfall about Hitler's last days, was titled 'Joan's Downfall' and parodys comments made by MSP Joan McAlpine who claimed those who did not vote SNP were "anti-Scottish".

But after talks with new Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont the MP for Glasgow South quit, saying his actions had been an "unhelpful distraction."

"Having spoken to Johann, I have decided to step down from leading the party's social media review," he said.

"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 SNP called the video tasteless and embarrassing.

"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," a spokesperson said.

A Scottish Labour spokesperson added: “Tom Harris did the decent thing after a lapse of judgement. It is about time that Joan McAlpine does the right thing and apologises for her much more serious error of judgement 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 his ministerial aide.”