Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this evening that his party's electoral campaign would be a positive one based on the need for change and unity.

Speaking after a meeting of the party executive, MPs and candidates, Dr Muscat said Labour was going into the campaign as a united team which would promote a positive message and vision, rather than fear and scarmongering.

He criticised the PN for having sent an anonymous propaganda leaflet to civil servants and said that the PN's claim that it selected addresses at random from the electoral register was a flimsy one.

Civil Servants, he said, had nothing to fear of a Labour government.

"You may disagree with us, but you will be able to work with us," he said, saying he would personally guarantee this.

Dr Muscat also criticised the prime minister for having stretched his term despite his consistent problems within the government, but he confirmed that there was agreement for the electoral campaign to start on January 7. Political billboards would be covered during the Christmas period, he said.

Dr Muscat reiterated that he viewed Labour as being the underdog in this campaign, despite leading the polls, and he hoped the government would not go into long-term commitments.

Meanwhile, speaking on BondiPlus, Dr Muscat gave an assurance that a Labour government would not raise VAT in the coming five years.