Dundee-born MP George Galloway wants the Government to tackle Rangers for £14 million in tax withheld by the Ibrox club before it went into administration.
The Respect politician has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons aimed at stopping Rangers from “sidestepping their liabilities”.
His move has been supported so far by only three MPs, including Dundee West Labour member Jim McGovern.
It may struggle to gain enough support to be formally debated in Westminster but it has attracted a range of comments from fans on the internet.
As member of parliament for Bradford West, Mr Galloway is toasting the triumph of Bradford City in reaching the final of the Capital One Cup at Wembley.
The former Harris Academy pupil, who began his political career as secretary-organiser of the Labour Party in Dundee, has been irked by Rangers going into liquidation with massive debts but re-emerging as a newco.
Although now playing in the Scottish third division, they have held on to their Ibrox home and are challenging any moves to strip them of the trophies and titles they have collected since their formation in 1873.
Mr Galloway’s early day motion states that the House notes that the owners of the club now playing in the Scottish Third Division called Rangers claim that it is the same club with the same history as the liquidated club also known as Rangers.
It further notes that £14 million in VAT and PAYE was withheld in the run-up to administration by the previous Rangers, and further notes that the club is now cash-rich through a share issue which raised in excess of £20 million.
It calls on MPs to condemn “the use of insolvency laws to avoid paying tax owed”. It also calls on the Government “to take steps to reclaim the outstanding monies from Rangers and to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent clubs and companies sidestepping their liabilities through liquidation and then carrying on trading with effectively the same name and in exactly the same business”.
Rangers yesterday declined to comment on the move by Mr Galloway, which the MP’s office admitted he had raised “to air an opinion and seek interest and support inside parliament and beyond”.
There is sympathy in Dundee for the MP’s motion, with one fan on the Dundee United Mad website posting: “Never let them forget, sock it to them George.”
Reaction to Mr Galloway on Rangers fans’ sites was hostile, with supporters accusing him of hatred for the Ibrox club.
Last night, Jim McGovern came to his fellow Dundonian’s defence, saying: “What happened to Rangers is something that should concern all Scottish football fans, including Rangers fans. There are other issues at stake as well.
“Rangers Football Club is a company like any other, and it has become an increasingly worrying trend that some companies have been able to use insolvency laws to avoid paying their taxes and repaying debts to small suppliers after the company is reformed.
“This is an issue that goes beyond football and must be addressed. I believe this is the point the early day motion was trying to make.”
Chris Allan, an expert in insolvency law with Dundee legal firm Thorntons, said: “This motion is asking for a fairly fundamental rewriting of insolvency law and I would think it unlikely to succeed.”
aargo@thecourier.co.uk