Mugliett backs referendum question

Former Nationalist Minister Jesmond Mugliett yesterday backed the opposition motion on the divorce referendum question, telling Parliament he preferred a question that sets parameters on divorce.

Mr Mugliett said having a question that reflected the main points of the Divorce Bill before the House would guide the people better. It also meant that if, in the future, somebody wanted to loosen the requirements for divorce, he would feel bound to subject the proposals to a referendum once again.

After Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, the co-sponsor of the Divorce Bill, Mr Mugliett is the second Nationalist MP to formally declare agreement with the referendum question as proposed by the opposition. All 34 Labour MPs have backed the motion, meaning the opposition enjoys a majority on this issue.

The government prefers a referendum question which specifically asks the people whether they wanted divorce or not.