LIVINGSTON boss David Martindale is used to facing questions on Scottish football every week.
But he took himself out of his comfort zone tonight as he took part in a leading POLITICAL programme – and ended up being quizzed about the BUDGET.
We told you earlier this week how Livingston manager Martindale, 51, would appear alongside leading political figures on BBC Scotland’s flagship Debate Night programme.
Hosted by Stephen Jardine, the current affairs programme allows members of the public to put their questions to leading figures in the Scottish political landscape on the big issues of the moment.
This week, the show headed for Bathgate, located just over 10 minutes away from Livingston.
Martindale took his place on the panel that included politicians from the SNP, Labour and the Scottish Conservatives.
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Ahead of his Debate Night appearance, Martindale admitted to the BBC that it was “obviously well outside of my comfort zone.”
But the footie boss didn’t look out of place at all as he answered questions on a range of hot topics.
Martindale delivered his opinion on prisoner release and rehabilitation, having spent four years in prison himself before turning his life around.
Football also came up while Martindale also fielded questions on fireworks and the economy.
And the audience certainly seemed to like what he said when he was quizzed on the upcoming BUDGET.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the UK budget next week and has refused to rule out tax increases.
The panel were asked their opinions on what they would NOT like to see in the budget when it’s announced.
Martindale said for him that the rumoured tax rises were exactly what he didn’t want to see – but then received a warm round of applause from the audience as he expanded on his answer.
Certain tax rises would go against Labour’s policy manifesto pledges from last year and that doesn’t sit well with the Livi boss.
He told the audience: “For me, it’s tax rises but I don’t understand how there’s no accountability here.
“If that’s your manifesto and that’s the reason you’re in power, but suddenly now you’re changing that round – there’s got to be accountability there.”
The audience burst into applause before another member of the panel picked up the baton.
Martindale was later quizzed on football matters with an audience member asking why working class people are being priced-out of football.
“There’s the cost of living in clubs as well. When I first went into the football club the energy bill was £5,000 a month, it’s now £20,000 a month.
“Those costs have to rise somewhere so that unfortunately is going to fall back on the paying punter, for want of a better word.
“I think social media demands instant success, fans demand instant success – how do you get that instant success?
“Unfortunately it’s about getting better players, paying more wages, so there’s a snowball effect but for us we feel we do a lot of stuff in the community.
“We do a lot of child free tickets, under-16s free, under-12s free, so we try to be as economic for the local community as we possible can.
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“But I do believe the cost of following some of those bigger clubs the cost of season tickets is astronomical and it is.
“The English Premier League is a great example, it is away, it’s not for the working class any more.”
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