MLP deputy leader Charles Mangion accused the Nationalist broadcasting media of lying about the Labour Party in claiming that Labour in government would weaken social services. In fact, he said, Labour would put the family at the centre of every political decision, to protect social welfare.

He said that the financial irresponsibilities of Nationalist governments had burdened the country with a national debt of some e3.5 billion, on which interest of about e200 million had to be paid annually. Because of this the Gonzi government had raised taxation, reduced polyclinic services, left the hospitals without nurses, medicines became scarce, hospital waiting lists had more than tripled, families were burdened with the heavy surcharge and social accommodation had been weakened.

Labour in government would not only weaken the social services, it would cut by half the surcharge on power and water, help young couples to buy their first home, remove income tax from overtime earnings, cut hospital waiting lists by 15 per cent, ensure the availability of medicines, and introduce other measures to help families.

It was obvious that the Nationalist Party’s campaign for the general elections would be built as usual on lies, Dr Mangion said.