A CAMPAIGN calling for a Celtic director to be sacked from the board for voting in favour of cutting tax credits in the House of Lords has secured 2000 more supporters within 24 hours.

Some 7500 have now backed the petition calling for Glasgow-born former BT chief executive Lord Livingston to be axed from the Celtic board.

It has meant that some 4500 have become signatories to the campaign in less than 48 hours.

Many of those supporting the campaign point out that the club was founded in 1887 with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the immigrant Irish population in the east end of Glasgow.

Lord Livingston, who is a non-executive director of Celtic FC, supported the Tory party line by voting against delays to Chancellor Osborne’s tax credit changes.

The Herald:

Supporters of the campaign have told of their continuing concern in petition comments.

The petition calls for him to be removed from the Celtic board, saying that the club "was formed to help feed the poor in the east end of Glasgow".

The petition adds: "This work continues today with the ongoing efforts of the Celtic Foundation. We find it hypocritical that Lord Livingston is considered a part of this club and wish him to be removed from the board of directors."

The Herald:

Lord Livingston, quit BT in 2013 and was appointed trade and investment minister as a surprise replacement for the former HSBC chairman Lord Green. He joined the House of Lords prior to his ministerial appointment.

Six months ago Celtic fans honoured club founder Brother Walfrid by donating £30,000 of food to food banks.

The Herald: Celtic FC and the Scottish Football Association also sent their condolences to Chloe Smith, whose father died in the helicopter crash

The club was formally constituted at a meeting by Brother Walfrid on November 6, 1887, with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the east end  of Glasgow by raising money for the charity he had instituted, the Poor Children's Dinner Table.

Walfrid's move to establish the club as a means of fund-raising was said to have been largely inspired by the example of Hibernian who were formed out of the immigrant Irish population a few years earlier in Edinburgh.

Celtic were approached for comment.

The issue continued to provoke a lively discussion on social media.