Instead of engaging in a “political stunt” this afternoon, Adrian Delia should have joined up with Bernard Grech and the two should have walked together to the VAT and Tax departments, the Labour Party said.

On Wednesday, Delia hand delivered letters to Prime Minister Robert Abela and Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, calling on them to join him in the fight against the Vitals hospitals contract.

The offer was quickly rejected by Fearne, who tweeted that he does not need Delia’s guidance on matters of national importance.

In a statement, the Labour Party said it understands that Delia is in the middle of a leadership campaign but said Delia and the “establishment candidate” [Bernard Grech] both need to understand that the government is not lead by “political stunts.”

It would have been better if Delia and Grech met up and walked to the Tax and VAT Departments, it said, with reference to recent episodes where the PN leadership candidates were revealed to have had issues with the taxman.

The PL said the government is committed to continue taking the necessary decisions, as hard as they may be, in the best interests of the Maltese public.