The Scottish Parliament has not been short of eccentric speeches and Christopher Harvie, the Nationalist MSP, is no stranger to controversy and outrage; but in yesterday's contribution to a debate on broadcasting in Scotland he broke with all that is sacred in British culture and profaned the name of Blue Peter.

Professor Harvie, a distinguished historian, told MSPs that the BBC children's programme Blue Peter was beset by “evil-doing” and went on to describe BBC bosses as “metropolitan munchkins”.

He heaped criticism on the corporation, but failed to elucidate his castigation of the long-running children's programme. Instead, to the puzzlement of some members, he went on to invoke the “imaginative” Adolf Hitler as an early convert to the potential for broadcasting to raise a rabble.

The member for Mid-Scotland and Fife rose to his feet during the debate, which, he said, revealed a downside of the industry. He described a rise in “huge bonuses” paid to broadcasters Jonathan Ross and Jeremy Clarkson and complained that only “peanuts” were left for academics.

“This has not been accompanied by an increase in honesty, objectivity and respect for its audience,” Professor Harvie said. “Just think of the evil-doing of Blue Peter.” Offering no further interpretation, Professor Harvie then compared the intuitive visions of Adolf Hitler and the founder of the BBC, Lord Reith.

“Colonel John Reith of the British Broadcasting Company grasped radio's capacity to inform, educate and entertain. Adolf Hitler saw it as a rabble-rouser,” he said. “Of the two, Hitler was actually the more imaginative because German broadcasting didn't even exist at that point.”

Professor Harvie added that the BBC helped to “lick Hitler” and went on to become a cosmopolitan and enterprising body. It was an affection that has taken a very long time to die off,” he added. He gave warning that the shape of broadcasting must change, drawing industry regulator Ofcom into his sights. “To leave Scotland in the hands of the present metropolitan munchkins of Ofcom and the BBC is like leaving one's parents watching daytime TV,” he said.

“Unless there are big changes towards a more decentralised democratic structure, then the sooner we are out of it, the better.”

Margaret Smith, the Liberal Democrat MSP, later told the chamber:

“Today's was an interesting contribution, which referred to the evil-doing of Blue Peter but the imaginativeness of Hitler.

“One could only guess what Adolf would have done if he had access to sticky-back plastic.”

However, Professor Harvie won some support from Tory Ted Brocklebank, a former television executive,who said he agreed with the Professor's “entertaining contribution”. “Especially his view that the BBC is now involving itself in aspects of broadcasting best left to others.”

Earlier this year, Professor Harvie faced criticism from civic leaders after describing the town of Lockerbie as a “dump” and castigating Scottish youth for wearing “what must be the ugliest clothes worn by anyone on the entire continent”.

He lists his recreations as “Any human activity except sport”.

Correction: To resolve Professor Harvie's complaint to the Press Complaints Commission, we are happy to make it clear that this report was based on copy from the Press Association which reversed the order of his speech in the Scottish Parliament. He had initially referred to the respective attitudes to reporting of Hitler and Lord Reith, and then went on to cite the "evil-doing" of Blue Peter.

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