The Siġġiewi local council yesterday approved a motion for premises currently occupied by the Labour Party club to be taken back by the government and handed over to the council for public use.

The club, situated in St Nicholas Square, has been rented out to the party since 1981 but the contract expires in June.

Nationalist deputy mayor Karol Aquilina spearheaded the motion for the contract not to be renewed and for the place to be used by the council, partly for offices and partly as a day care centre for the elderly.

The Siġġiewi council, which has a Nationalist Party majority, approved the motion with four (PN) in favour and three (Labour) against.

Dr Aquilina argued that, at present, the council premises was too small and inaccessible for the disabled because of a large number of steps. He said property in Siġġiewi was scarce but this one was ideal and should be returned to the public. "If the motion is approved this would be the first case in which one of the many properties rented out to Labour would have been returned to the government and given proper public use," he said.

Dr Aquilina criticised the Labour government of the 1980s for blurring the lines between party and country and said the way the property in question was transferred was "scandalous".

The property, formerly known as Villa Siġġiewi, used to belong to Mabel Strickland, daughter of former Prime Minister Gerald Strickland, leader of the Progressive Constitutional Party and editor of The Times between 1935 and 1950.

It was bought by the government in the 1960s and used as a primary school for several years. In 1969, it became a civic centre used by a number of organisations.

In 1981, Labour submitted an offer to lease part of the property. It was leased on December 11, 1981 - the eve of the general election - for Lm200 (€465) a year.

In 1983, other parts of the building became vacant and the government issued a call for those wishing to lease it. This was then also transferred to Labour.

In 1987, a few months before another general election, the government accepted a party request and extended the lease for 24 years, which expire in June next year, Dr Aquilina said.

When contacted, the Labour Party preferred not to comment.