Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Chris Cardona said that as Simon Busuttil keeps on lashing out at the government spending, he is making it clear that he intends to remove new benefits introduced by this administration.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon at the Labour Party Headquarters in Hamrun, the Minister for the Economy said that the Leader of the Opposition is against the government spending on education and health care. "Simon Busuttil is a threat to the new jobs in the public sector," he added.

The press conference was called to praise the government's economic success in the last four years ahead of the Labour Party congress which will be held later this week. Dr Cardona said that the Labour government has changed the country's economic direction, from deficit to surplus in a period of four years.

He said that the government has increased spending on social benefits by €274 million. There was also an increase of €171 million in the spending in the health sector. "This spending comes at a time when former PN deputy leader Tonio Borg is saying that Malta will eventually have to give up free health care. We don't intend to do so. We intend to increase the spending even further."

There was also a registered increase of €240 million in government spending in education. This spending was partly recorded because of the introduction of tablets and the employment of more teachers and LSAs. 

'The only threat to our country is Dr Egrant' - PN

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said that it is 'Dr Egrant' the only threat to this country.

"Simon Busuttil is a guarantee to the Maltese families. A new PN government will be reducing tax for small business by 10%, give free medicines to the elderly, stick to equal pay for equal work policy and provide justice for those who have suffered injustices."

The PN said our country does not deserve a corrupt government, but clean leadership.