Labour's former high-profile consultant Alfred Mifsud, a pariah for the past few years, has written to the party's vigilance board asking it to reconsider a warning it had issued against him in 2003 so that he would be able to rejoin the party.

His request comes in the wake of Alfred Sant's resignation as the head of the MLP and in time for the leadership contest that is expected to take place by mid-April.

His name is among those being floated as prospective candidates for the leadership contest, even if his absence from the party for so many years and the circumstances surrounding his departure would make him a rank outsider.

When contacted yesterday, he confirmed that people had approached him but insisted that it meant nothing. "The fact that one is approached means nothing, one has to be interested in such a post," he said.

But while he skirted the question of whether he was actually interested in the post, Mr Mifsud said he had written to the vigilance board in a bid to rejoin the party.

In 2003 the board had issued a warning against him following a series of articles he had written which were critical of the party and in particular of Alfred Sant. Following Dr Sant's resignation this Monday after Labour's third consecutive defeat at the general elections, he is now asking the board to reconsider its position.

"Time has proven me right," he said. "It is now clear that I was not at all trying to damage the party but was trying to avert more damage. I have now asked the board to reconsider the warning it had issued. After that, we'll see."

Echoing comments given by other Labour insiders, he said the party should not rush into the decision on the leadership.

"The party should be open to the people outside the party as well as those inside, both the Labourites and the electorate. The problem with the 2003 decision to reappoint Dr Sant after he had been rejected in the general election was that the decision defied the electorate, which is why Labour is in the position it is in today," he said. The race is wide open, with all of the mentioned contenders shying away from committing themselves. So far, the likely frontrunners appear to be Labour's deputy leader Michael Falzon and MEP Joseph Muscat, even though Evarist Bartolo, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Anġlu Farrugia and Karmenu Vella are also being mentioned persistently.

The latter was the only one to suggest that he would be keener on helping a new leadership rather than taking on the hot seat himself.

Ms Coleiro Preca, who enjoys wide support among Labour's delegates, said she had not decided yet but that she was giving the proposal serious consideration. "My primary consideration would be to help Labour win the election, so my decision to contest would be taken in this spirit and not as a step up in my career. Obviously I have to weigh that against the prospect of dedicating my life to this job," she said.

Similarly, Anġlu Farrugia confirmed that he had been approached but that he is still considering the matter.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party yesterday issued a statement announcing that the party's executive committee and parliamentary group is to meet on Tuesday to discuss and analyse the party's electoral defeat and to decide which seats are to vacated by MPs who were elected in two districts.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com