Opposition proposes case-by-case pairing arrangement

The Opposition parliamentary group has decided that until the new leadership of the Labour Party is elected, pairing in the House of Representatives will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Pairing is an arrangement where a member of the opposition is paired with a government MP and does not vote when the government MP cannot vote in the House because of official business elsewhere.

The group also decided at a meeting yesterday that it will propose to the government that the Speaker of the House, Anton Tabone, should remain in the Chair temporarily until the nomination of a new Speaker is discussed with the new leader of the opposition. The group is proposing the same arrangement for the deputy Speaker, Labour MP Carmelo Abela.

The group said that it would be prepared, within two months, to present proposals to the government for the better running of the House.

It said that until the new Labour leadership is appointed, shadow ministers in the last legislature will continue in their functions.

The opposition said it was making these proposals in reply to proposals made to it by the government.

Mr Tabone, who did not contest the last general election, was Speaker in the last two legislatures.