Sir David Murray last night launched an attack on Celtic chairman John Reid, accusing him of a lack of respect.
But the former Home Secretary hit back claiming he would continue to speak out “without fear or favour”.
Rangers owner Murray insists he can no longer bite his tongue while listening to his club being insulted. He also pointed a finger at the former Defence Secretary and leading light in the Tony Blair Government claiming Reid has ignored Old Firm etiquette by breaking one of their unwritten laws.
Murray, who bought the Ibrox club 20 years ago today, came out with all guns blazing against Reid and those who he believes have been taking pot-shots at Rangers.
He said: “Some people seem to want to put all the ills of Scottish society at the door of Rangers. It’s time they all got off our backs.”
But Reid was the man in the firing line. Murray added: “He speaks of innuendo. He has had a few shots aimed at Rangers like, ‘We are not a selling club’ and, ‘Our finances are good’.”
Murray believes Reid is suggesting Rangers must be a selling club and their money isn’t any good. He finds that deeply insulting.
He added: "John Reid should remember he isn’t in the Commons now. He’s not haggling with people across the chamber.
"He is in the west of Scotland and has a responsibility to act in a responsible manner.
"He represents Airdrie and Shotts which is a broad church. It is very easy to be brave now and cross the line because he doesn’t plan to stand again and be voted back into office.
"There has been disrespect towards Rangers, but I’d like to think we show a lot of dignity.
"Celtic’s chairman does it his way but that doesn’t mean we should follow suit.
"There is an unwritten rule that the Old Firm don’t criticise one another and I have never gone out of my way to say anything about Artur Boruc.
"I didn’t say anything when Richard Gough was being accused of all sorts of things while he was with us.
“As I say, there is an unwritten law, but this has changed with John Reid at Celtic.”
Murray then questioned the wisdom of having a politician in charge of a club and pointed out that it could even be argued that it might be dangerous.
Murray stressed the blight of sectarianism is being tackled and that it is much less of a problem than when he took over 20 years ago.
He said: "It has diminished quite a lot, but it’s easy to criticise. As a nation we are good at whining. However, I have said and will continue to say the Famine Song is wrong. It shouldn’t be sung, but there are only so many times I can say these things.
"I know members of John Reid’s political party encouraged him to make the Famine Song a priority and that’s fine, but we could have said something about the poppy issue the other week. We didn’t.
"We are trying to move on. We are trying to put all these things behind us.
"When we signed Maurice Johnston we signed a footballer first and foremost.
But his arrival also helped break the mould at this club. He was Roman Catholic and of course it was wrong that Rangers didn’t sign players of that faith.
"Again, though, there are so many times I can speak out against that element of the support who stick with their nonsense. There aren’t as many now but I think Celtic have done a good job of managing the media.
"We have so many dire problems out there which we really need to address.
“Although I sincerely hope no one will die today because of sectarianism someone will die because of drug abuse or obesity.”
Reid, who has condemned a section of the Rangers support for singing the Famine Song, last night said: "We all want to be a little indulgent to David on his 20th anniversary, but I’m not entirely sure of the points he is trying to make regarding inference and innuendo.
"No one should be under any illusion that in defending the welfare of Celtic and our supporters I will continue to comment when appropriate, without fear or favour.
“I know we all welcome David’s respect for Celtic’s traditions and congratulate him on 20 years at Rangers.”
