It was supposed to have been a high-minded debate on the Irish collapse and the euro crisis but instead the talk in the European parliament today degenerated into a screaming match about goose-stepping Nazis, Spitfires and Adolf Hitler.

Martin Schulz, a German social democrat previously taunted by the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, as being "perfect" for the role of Nazi concentration camp guard, was criticising the EU's attempts to bail out Ireland when a British MEP interrupted to call him a "Euro nationalist".

"Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer," [one people, one nation, one leader] yelled Godfrey Bloom, the UK Independence party's MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, using the Nazi slogan to insult the leader of the European socialists in the Strasbourg chamber.

MEPs were appalled. Jerzy Buzek, the Polish president of the European parliament, demanded that Bloom apologise and retract his remarks.

But the Ukip MEP said: "The views of Herr Schulz make the case. He is an undemocratic fascist."

Bloom was expelled from the chamber. Leaders of all the other caucuses, including Michal Kaminski, the controversial Polish right-winger who leads the Tories' European group of conservatives and reformists, demanded that "a severe sanction" be imposed on Bloom.

The Ukip member's anger was apparently stirred by Schulz's call for greater EU solidarity in the financial crisis that is hitting Ireland and Portugal and threatening the euro single currency.

"My father, as a Spitfire pilot, fought for freedom against Nazi domination of Europe," Bloom said afterwards. "As an MEP, I will fight against the destruction of democracy across Europe. Schulz is an unrepentant Euro nationalist and a socialist. He wants one currency, one EU state, one EU people. These Euro nationalists are a danger to democracy. These people are fanatics."

The outburst is in line with Ukip publicity stunts in the parliament – calculated displays of rudeness aimed at causing upset and attracting attention.

In February, the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, turned on the new president of the European council, Herman Van Rompuy, a former Belgian prime minister. "Really, you have the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk," Farage told him. "Who are you? I'd never heard of you; nobody in Europe had ever heard of you … I can speak on behalf of the majority of British people in saying that we don't know you, we don't want you, and the sooner you are put out to grass the better."

Farage admitted today that Bloom had been "rash and inflammatory", but the MEP was supported by far-right members from France's National Front and the Freedom Party of the Dutch anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders.

Some 20 MEPs walked out of the chamber in support of Bloom. Bruno Gollnisch, of Jean Marie Le Pen's National Front, said Bloom's expulsion was illegal.Farage said: "This was the week that the European commission has taken control of the economy of a second country, this time Ireland. The EU is clearly intent on expanding its powers."

As for Schulz, today was not the first time he had had to deal with Nazi-related slurs. Appearing before the parliament after taking over the rotating EU presidency in 2003, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, clashed with the German social democrat. In comments that almost caused a diplomatic incident between Berlin and Rome, Berlusconi said: "Mr Schulz, I know a movie producer in Italy who is making a film about Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you to play the role of a Kapo [an inmate made to be a camp guard]. You are perfect."