The Nationalist Party yesterday stood by its claim that Labour in government would be an administration which would take care of those close to it.

Replying to a Labour Party statement which played on the prime minister’s taking back of the word “only” from an expression he used to say that Labour would be a government for Labour supporters “only”, the PN said MLP general secretary Jason Micallef knew well how Labour governments took care of their own. Mr Micallef, the PN said, had been employed by Xandir Malta at 16 on the recommendation of his uncle’s ministry.

The prime minister’s reference was to remarks made by Mr Micallef at a private activity some weeks ago when Mr Micallef said they would be a government for Labour supporters. The MLP accused the PN on Wednesday of twisting Mr Micallef’s quote to make it look as if Mr Micallef had said “for Labour supporters only”.

The PN yesterday said declarations by MLP spokesmen had shown what kind of government Labour would provide. It was not the first time Mr Micallef had spoken in that sense, either, the PN added.

Labour had made clear what its policy would be: taking care of their own out of everybody’s taxes. Party leader Alfred Sant had himself made this clear, the PN said.