It takes a social psychologist to explain how and why small communities are often split down the middle for religious, political or even sporting reasons. Malta, which is no larger than a small European town, suffers from the same negative attitudes that are prevalent in other small societies.

Just look at our village festas where supporters of one band club openly declare their dislike to the supporters of a rival band club. This irrational behaviour is even more difficult to understand when supporters of one Madonna feast in a village openly declare their dislike of the feast dedicated to the same Madonna under a different title and celebrated in the same or a rival village.

But it is not my intention to delve into the Maltese psyche to try and understand why we behave this way. As a politician, and a member of the leadership team of the Malta Labour Party, I believe it is my responsibility to support and promote policies that encourage unity, tolerance, and a fair deal to all our citizens.

I am in politics to unite and not to divide. Democracy demands a divergence of views on political solutions to resolve the country’s challenges, but this should never promote division, and much less intolerance, between those in our society who hold different political views.

Of course, it is unfortunate that our political system encourages an almost endless election campaign atmosphere as we move from local council elections, to European parliament elections, to general elections. In such campaigns, the political rhetoric is sometimes too strident. I acknowledge that this upsets many of our people who look forward to a more civil and calmer way of doing politics.

We have made significant progress since the 1960s when political intolerance took the form of religious sanctions against supporters of one particular party, and since the 1980s when the bigger party on the island still remained in Opposition with the understandable resentment that this aroused in the supporters of this party. We now need to move on and project our politics in a more civilised and modern way.

A future Labour government will be a government for the whole nation, because despite the constant jibes by our political adversaries we are a one-nation party. We are a small nation and need all the human resources we have to build a better future for our families. Of course, I understand that in a democratic system different people will have different political preferences and very often our exuberant Mediterranean character erupts in the external manifestation of our political beliefs.

But when all is said and done, we need to stand by each other to beat off the challenge from our competitors who are trying to attract investors to their countries and away from ours. What matters for us as a nation is to create economic wealth so that all Maltese families and all individuals will have equal opportunities to achieve the aspirations they dream of. What equally matters to us as a Labour Party is that those who are weak in our society find the support they need to move ahead in life despite their weaknesses.

We need to move on from political patronage, discrimination, and connivance to build a fair society where people are judged not by their political belief and contacts, but by their ability to contribute in the advancement of our society.

I am optimistic that we can achieve this, especially since today the government’s role in our economy is steadily changing from one where the State is a major economic player, to one where it is a catalyst to promote growth and equal opportunities for all.

Under a Labour government, people who feel aggrieved for political, religious, sexual or other reasons will, as in any other modern State, have recourse to a proper hearing and remedy for their complaint if they are found to be justified.

But the rest of our society will be guaranteed that their government will treat them as equal and valuable members of a modern society that is enriched by the diversity, including the political diversity, of those who compose it. Labour will indeed be a one-nation party.

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www.mangioncharles.com

Dr Mangion is deputy leader of the Opposition.