Rebel MPs Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando yesterday took Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s offer to resign with a pinch of salt and told him to make way if he really loved the party.

Both said they intended to stick to their parliamentary seats “until the end”, despite their differences with the Nationalist Party. They also said they would never cross the floor to Labour.

Dr Debono said: “I am much more of a Nationalist than Austin Gatt and will never do any favours for the Opposition. Labour’s trump card at this moment is Dr Gatt himself who, despite all his fiascos, wants to retain his ministerial seat even though he has been embarrassing the Government for a long time.”

Dr Pullicino Orlando said: “It is obviously up to him (Dr Gatt) to do what he feels is right and I will not engage in puerile arguments with him. My seat was entrusted to me by the electorate and Dr Gatt may rest assured that, even when it comes to the car parks privatisation fiasco, I am merely echoing the concerns of my constituents.”

“I will remain loyal to the mandate given to me by the electorate till the last day of this legislature and my behaviour during the meeting of the House Business Committee, in which I gave my full support to the suggestions put forward by the Leader of the House, is ample proof of this,” the Żebbuġ dentist said.

Dr Debono reiterated his ­position that he would not ­support the Government if Dr Gatt remained a member of Cabinet.

Asked whether this meant that he wanted to bring the Government down, Dr Debono replied he would not vote for the Budget unless Dr Gatt stepped down.

He also confirmed his intention to present a motion of no confidence in Health Minister Joe Cassar, something he had threatened to do some weeks ago.

“I still plan to present this motion but there are other priorities. The problems related to Dr Cassar are still there and a motion will be tabled at the opportune time,” he said.

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