AT election time you expect certain issues to become political footballs.

This time it is the game itself that is being booted around by politicians.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football act has caused controversy since its introduction and now it is alcohol at matches that is getting the parties all excited.

The Tories and Labour want to end the ban on alcohol to allow clubs to sell booze in the stadium. The SNP said it is not on their agenda.

Why has the question of whether you can have an alcoholic drink at the football become an issue? Well it looks like political manoeuvring ahead of the election.

Labour is going through an identity crisis, losing support in its traditional working class areas and what says traditional working class more than beer and football.

It has been positioned as a class issue with the argument that you can have a drink at Murrayfield but not at Hampden.

Jim Murphy also said he will scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act branding it 'Gimmick' legislation.

On both counts Mr Murphy is seeking to be the fans' champion and identify the SNP as authoritarian and mistrusting of football fans.

So, who understands fans the most? It depends on your image of a football fan.

The days of terraces packed with men in bunnets on a half day off are long gone.

There are many more women at football matches and the range of occupations in the stands is as wide as in society itself.

So, is Labour appealing to a section of fans or a particular idea of a football fan, i.e those in the communities in the west of Scotland it is in danger of losing.

It is just one example of Mr Murphy since becoming leader seeking to reclaim the mantle of champion of the working classes for Labour.

He wants to use cash raised in the richest homes to pay for nurses in the NHS and wants to increase the top rate of tax to find cash to fund schemes to get young people in work.

He wants to deploy more resources into improving educational attainment in deprived areas.

The polls are worrying for Labour and unless they can turn it around before May the party is facing a humiliating defeat which would take a long time to recover from.

Jim Murphy has placed an emphasis on health, education and jobs, all genuine concerns of the traditional working class voter and with a redistribution of resources agenda as well.

As for booze at football being a political issue. Politics is about identifying need, devising solutions, finding resources and applying them effectively.

In this instance I don't see the need.