The leader Labour needs

The question of whether the new Labour leader should be young or not so young is not important at all. What Labour needs is a leader who can beat Lawrence Gonzi at his own game - charisma and political astuteness.

The new Labour leader should be one who is ready to stand up to Dr Gonzi and his "minority" government when they try to steamroll over the Opposition. The Labour Opposition now has a very powerful weapon - 'pairing'. The new Labour leader should be ready to use this weapon to force the PN government to let go its stranglehold on the natural broadcasting station - PBS - which it has turned practically into its own party station.

Labour should make the government come to an agreement on the new Speaker and the President.

To agree on legislation to control public spending on what is termed 'information' but which is clearly political propaganda to help the party in power. To give just one example: the billboard 'Budget fis-sod għalik' was pure and simple propaganda, not information.

There are other areas where the new Labour leader and the Opposition should insist on a level playing-field if the government truly wants to be deserving of Labour's co-operation in Parliament.

The new Labour leader should also be able to reach out to all sectors and age groups of society, and make them feel comfortable working in or with a Labour government. This is the ideal leader Labour needs. Age does not really come into it.