For as long as I can remember the MLP have always based their election strategy on false pretences, void promises and untruths. This is their bible. The ability to throw mud is their way of doing politics; sometimes they succeed but most of the time they fail. Their history speaks for itself – when their strategy fails they turn to fighting and insulting each other.

Labour’s new slogan for the forthcoming election is a new beginning and the need for change.

Their slogans go back over 60 years; in 1947 they won on the false slogan of calling the Nationalists pro-Italians. They won but couldn’t last their full term and resigned. In 1955 they won on the slogan of strong governance and integration with Britain but again failed to finish their full term.

In 1971 they won on the false promise of controlling the cost of living but instead introduced state control on anything the people ate, wore or learned. In 1976 Labour won due to the districts’ gerrymandering, and in 1981 they lost but stayed in power against the people’s will.

Fifteen years later, Labour once more promised to remove VAT and cash registers from retail outlets but they were untruthful with the people and brought the country down to its knees economically. They ran away again after only 22 months. This is what, briefly, a change to Labour and their new beginning means.

Dr Alfred Sant has been party leader since his election of 1992, a whole 16 years. In normal circumstances political party leaders start thinking of leaving their position after 16 years, but for Dr Sant it is a new beginning. Some other Labour oldies that preach the new beginning are Charles Mangion, who resigned from minister in the last Labour government, Charles Buhagiar, who will be remembered for the famous Bugibba cradled pavements, Joe Debono Grech, former deputy leader, Michael Farrugia, who publicly criticised his colleagues, Joe Brincat, another former Labour minister who goes back decades, and George Vella who was removed from foreign affairs and placed on the parliament back benches. Is this the new beginning Labour talk about?

Even at individual level when things get rough they run away. Jason Micallef, the MLP general secretary, was a member of one of the Mosta club committees. When things got tough for them, he ran away and was removed by his colleagues. The case goes back to May 2003 when the Mosta Club reported Jason Micallef’s lack of attendance from committee meetings. The council, which I formed part of, wrote to Mr Micallef asking him to confirm or deny the allegation, but Jason Micallef did not even reply and therefore the council unanimously decided to remove him from his position.

The people know them and will not trust them.

Pawlu Aquilina

St Paul’s Bay