In a first reaction nearly 12 hours after losing the Labour Party leadership election, Chris Fearne has sworn loyalty to the party but not to the man who beat him.

“I thank the thousands of Labourites who expressed faith in me,” he wrote in a brief message on Facebook.

“I promise my loyalty to the party and our values,” he concluded.

There was no mention of Robert Abela in his message.

Abela won the election for party leader, bagging nearly 58% of the votes cast. Initial polls taken at the start of the campaign in early December saw Abela trailing heavily to Fearne, but a massive campaign spurred by people close to Joseph Muscat saw him overturn the deficit.