Labour leadership hopeful Michael Falzon said this afternoon that parts of the report commissioned by the party on its election defeat made unfair criticism of some people, while other parts cushioned the blame due on others or hid the known truth. There were also parts which were untrue.

Speaking at a press conference Dr Falzon said it was insulting of the report to claim that the MLP was "lost" in the counting hall while vote counting took place.

Dr Falzon said that while he, and the MLP election office, had been in favour of instituting court cases against people thought not to be eligible to vote, the decision not to file such cases was taken by someone else.

He insisted that it was not his decision that voting on polling day was extended by an hour. Dr Falzon observed that half a sentence in the chapter about the polling hours had been left out in the report. Had the report been edited, and by whom?

Dr Falzon said that while the report spoke on cliques within the party, he never had a clique, and it was only those who were not sure of themselves, who did.

Dr Falzon reiterated his criticism of a member of the commission which drew up the report, whose partner, he said, was constantly writing against him. This same person had adopted an aggressive attitude to him when he appeared before the commission, Dr Falzon said. He refrained from mentioning names, saying his purpose was only to defend himself.

Dr Falzon also complained that not one of a bundle of documents which he presented the commission had actually found its place in the report.

At the beginning of the press conference Dr Falzon said his reaction was being given after the go-ahead of the MLP executive, even though, he said, there had been some who tried to stop him.

He said that although the report may have been an attempt to cast a shadow over his leadership candidacy, he was confident the delegates could see through this.