The Nationalist Party said Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion has been confused by its proposals for a cut in income tax and he is now playing as it suited him with the figures on income tax revenue.

Aspiring to be finance minister, he has criticised the government by saying the government had earned more revenue from VAT. VAT, the PN pointed out, was a tax on consumption and its rate had not changed.

An increase in VAT revenue meant that over the past year there had been a strong economic improvement, as a result of EU membership and the government’s policies. More revenue from VAT meant that the Maltese had consumed more, and they had done that because they had had the means, the PN said.

The Labour Party’s track record on taxation was negative. In government Alfred Sant had introduced 33 new taxes in a matter of 22 months and he was now against the PN’s proposal to reduce income tax.