Labour leader Joseph Muscat was conspicuously absent during a visit at the Rainbow Ward in Mater Dei Hospital. This event followed an earlier news conference in Paola in which Joseph Muscat repeatedly refused to comment when probed about remarks made by former Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia on his forced resignation last December. In an interview published on Sunday Dr Farrugia accused the Labour leader of “political murder” in his regard.

Meanwhile for the very first time in this campaign the wife of the Labour leader took the limelight, heading the party’s delegation which also included PL president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Lydia Abela, secretary of the executive committee.

The Malta Independent can confirm that Dr Muscat was also expected to attend but for some reason did not turn up.

As a matter of fact Dr Victor Calvagna, the head of the medical team at Rainbow Ward, remarked that he was surprised about Dr Muscat’s absence when greeting Mrs Muscat.

During her visit she toured the facilities and spent some time with parents, in this ward which caters for children diagnosed with cancer.

Last month Dr Calvagna openly denied claims made by the Labour Party, that the main cause of cancer in the Maltese Islands are power station emissions. According to Dr Calvagna smoking is by far the main cause.