There will be no increases in the pay packets of ministers and MPs in the next legislature, Joseph Muscat pledged this evening.

The Labour leader said an independent commission would still be set up to analyse the pay packets of MPs and ministers, but he said there would be no increases in the next legislature if people chose a Labour government.

Earlier, when replying to questions in an interview in Mqabba, Dr Muscat told enthusiastic supporters that h still viewed the Labour Party as the underdog in this election, Joseph Muscat said this evening at Mqabba where he is being interviewed by television presenter Miriam Dalli.

He was given a rousing welcome by supporters but Dr Muscat tempered their jubilation and called on them to continue working until the last minute.

"Let me remind you that the Labour Party is the underdog and we have to continue working until the very end to convince people to vote for us," he said.

The Labour leader said the energy plan unveiled on Tuesday did not mean an increase in taxation.

He noted that Government's energy plan published some weeks ago said it would be studying the conversion to gas until 2018. Families and industry could not wait so long, he added.

On renewable energy, Dr Muscat said the Government had internal studies expressing doubts on the feasibility of wind turbines to generate electricity. While allowing further studies to take their course, a Labour government would  emphasise the use of solar energy, he added.

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