British MEP suspended over 'fascist' remarks

Mr Bloom interrupted a speech by Mr Schulz by calling out, in German, the infamous Nazi slogan, "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer" – One People, One Nation, One Leader.

The heckle came as Mr Schulz was complaining about the UK's role in reducing the size of the EU budget next year and asking: "Does the UK decide everything that happens in the EU?"

Mr Bloom's shout prompted Mr Schulz to respond: "I don't know if people heard that... when a man like that traipses through this chamber chanting 'Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer'... there were people in Germany who said that and I fight against that spirit in everything I do, but I'm not sure he (Mr Bloom) does."

European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek, chairing the debate, looked set to carry on, but jeers rose up and the French centre-right leader in the Parliament Joseph Daul challenged Mr Bloom to apologise.

He said: "We are in a democracy, this is a democratic era and I would ask you to make an official apology. This is not acceptable – I'm almost surprised you didn't add concentration camps to the equation."

Mr Buzek then asked Mr Bloom to apologise and the Ukip member for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire stood up and replied: "The views expressed by Herr Schulz meet the case –he is an undemocratic fascist."