Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning laid flowers on the monument of Lord Strickland in Valletta, to mark the anniversary of his death.

Gerald Strickland, who headed the 'compact' coalition government of the Constitutional Party and the Labour Party from 1927, passed away at Villa Bologna in Balzan on August 22, 1940.

In a short address Dr Muscat recalled Lord Strickland for his progressive-liberal views, some of which were inherited by Dom Mintoff.

(Like Dom Mintoff, Lord Strickland was well known for fiery speeches and his confrontational style, and like Mintoff, he also had a 'battle' with the Church authorities. Both premiers also brought about major infrastructural projects - such as St Luke's Hospital in Strickland's case. The 'compact' government also brought in new social benefits).

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