Calls for former Rangers chairman to be stripped of knighthood

THERE have been calls for Sir David Murray to be stripped of his knighthood over the financial position the former Rangers chairman left the club in.

Sir David, who sold the Glasgow club to Craig Whyte in May last year, broke his ten-month silence yesterday to say he was “hugely disappointed” by its entry into administration. But critics have said he must accept his share of the blame for the club’s predicament.

The club and the HMRC are currently in a tribunal over employee benefits trusts (EBTs) that date back to 2001, when Sir David was in charge.

Mr Whyte believes the club could face a £75 million bill if it loses the case.

On Twitter, Andrew Neil asked: “If David Murray has left an unpaid tax bill of at least £45m which will now never be paid, should he be stripped of knighthood?”

Professor Tom Devine, a historian, also said that he expected the issue to be considered.

Last month, disgraced banker Fred Goodwin was publicly stripped of his knighthood – awarded for services to banking – for his role in the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland, on the grounds that his conduct had brought the banking system into disrepute.