An Angus councillor was facing resignation calls last night after uploading a video to the internet that depicted the first minister as Adolf Hitler.
Arbroath Conservative councillor Jim Millar, who is also employed by North East Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone, made the video and posted it on YouTube and on his personal blog yesterday.
Mr Johnstone told the Press and Journal last night that he would be discussing the issue with Mr Millar before deciding on any action.
An SNP spokesman said: “This is a major blunder by the Tories and hugely embarrassing for Alex Johnstone.”
The video involved a doctored clip from the 2004 German film Downfall, which shows Hitler’s last days in his bunker.
False English subtitles were added to suggest it portrayed a crisis meeting with Alex Salmond and his advisers.
During the 3min 32sec clip, references were made to the recent cash-for-access row involving Mr Salmond.
At one point the subtitles attributed to the first minister’s character read: “Don’t they know people will fork out nine grand just to eat in my presence.”
Other SNP ministers are targeted in the clip, which Mr Millar removed from his blog and the video-sharing website yesterday afternoon after the Press and Journal contacted him.
The film also featured Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, about whom the Hitler character said: “Even Sturgeon can only fetch a pathetic two grand for lunch.”
The previous item on Mr Millar’s blog was a guest article written by his employer, Mr Johnstone.
The 42-year-old Arbroath East and Lunan councillor, of East Abbey Street, Arbroath, is chairman of both the licensing board and the neighbourhood services committee.
He refused to comment last night, other than to say it “may have been” him who created and uploaded the clip, but the Scottish Conservative Party released a statement on his behalf.
It read: “The film Downfall has been used for political satire on many occasions and has also been used in many other settings, including football both north and south of the border.
“It is using a well-known film as a vehicle for political satire, nothing more.
“It would be wrong to think that the person being portrayed is being compared to Adolf Hitler. That is just not the case and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise.
“It is important that political satire remains a part of political debate, for no other reason than it helps keep our politicians well grounded.”
The Tory party said it would not be taking any further action as a result.
Mr Johnstone also refused to comment in detail but said he would be speaking to Mr Millar to find out more about the situation.
“It will be necessary for me to make myself aware of the circumstances and at the moment I am not in a position to comment,” he said.
Members of the SNP group on Angus Council called last night for the former Historic Scotland manager to quit.
Councillor Iain Gaul, deputy leader of the group, said: “I managed to see the clip before it was removed and, basically, it is just a complete and utter disgrace.
“To compare the Scottish Government to the regime responsible for the Holocaust is just obscene and I think Mr Millar has gone beyond the pale with this one.
“Councillor Millar needs to really consider his position as a public figure after this and I think if he had any honour or scruples left he would do the right thing and resign.”
The national SNP group also criticised Mr Millar for the clip and compared it to the actions of Labour MP Anne Moffat, who faces deselection by her local Labour party after she compared Mr Salmond to Hitler during a debate in May 2007.
The SNP spokesman added: “Mr Johnstone should have a care about who he employs and the smears the Tories get up to on the internet.”
The clip was also doctored to make it look as if Mr Salmond was talking about a “unionist conspiracy” against him, and that this was to blame for the SNP not being included in the televised leaders’ debates that are due to take place in the build-up to the general election.
The first minister character said: “Don’t get me started on Kenny MacAskill. He lets out a mass murderer with three moths to live and that was six months ago.”
Education Secretary Mike Russell MSP was also targeted in the video, with the Hitler character describing books he had written as “only fit for raffle prizes at coffee mornings”.
Another reference was made to Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, who was described by the Hitler character as looking “like a rabbit caught in the headlights” at first minister’s questions.
A Labour spokesman said last night: “There is a long tradition of satire in the UK but elected councillors need to extremely careful when they use the imagery and history of Nazi Germany to try and make political points.
“Councillor Millar looks silly and he should reflect carefully before doing something like this in the future.”
The clip follows revelations about Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon auctioning lunches at Holyrood in return for SNP funding last week. Gordon MSP Mr Salmond moved to quash the row by cancelling the event.