Sant optimistic delegates will 'make the right choice'

Alfred Sant is optimistic that through their choice at the general conference, which starts today, Labour delegates will "offer a platform from which the MLP will have more strength to defend the country's workers in the hard times ahead".

The delegates had a choice to make between the motion of the national executive and the parliamentary group and that of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, the Labour leader said, expressing confidence they would make the right decision.

He was speaking on the Super One programme D-Bate, together with deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon.

Dr Sant said today's choice was no longer between EU membership and partnership. The MLP felt that taking the road out of the EU would be harmful to the workers as it would bring instability. On the other hand, the party would not be accepting all that came out of Brussels.

The best road was for the MLP to be prepared for the disadvantages of membership while ensuring that the benefits were reaped and shared equally, Dr Sant continued.

Dr Mangion said the national executive's motion would propose a forward-looking strategy while Dr Mifsud Bonnici's would turn the back the clock and ignored the people's decision, "something the MLP had committed itself not to do last January".

Dr Mangion said it was impossible to link the two motions together and that if the MLP did not update itself with developing circumstances, it would lose its meaning.

Dr Falzon said that if Labour held back and did not face reality it would be betraying its own principles.