Nationalist deputy leader Simon Busuttil yesterday said that although there was nothing intrinsically wrong in accepting the hospitality of a businessman, he would not feel comfortable in such situations.

Although I don’t think that they have done anything wrong, if it was me personally, I wouldn’t have gone

Dr Busuttil was pressed by the Labour media to say whether he agreed with the way construction magnate Żaren Vassallo had hosted PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier and his predecessor Joe Saliba on board his yacht a few years ago.

“Although I don’t think that they have done anything wrong, if it was me personally, I wouldn’t have gone,” the PN deputy leader replied.

Both Mr Saliba, a long-time friend of Mr Vassallo, and Dr Borg Olivier came under Labour’s spotlight when they were seen holidaying in Sicily in the company of Mr Vassallo – a staunch Nationalist supporter and a former PN Mosta mayor.

The Labour Party has often accused the PN of favouring Mr Vassallo in his business deals with the Government. Both Mr Vassallo and the PN have always denied these allegations.

Meanwhile the PN has asked Labour to explain its relations with contractors after revelations made by former deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia that the PL has become too close to big businessmen.

This is not the first time that yachting and politics have mixed together.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the Nationalist Party had accused then Prime Minister Dom Mintoff of spending weeks on board a super yacht in the company of the Marsovin owner.

Mr Mintoff used to tour the Mediterranean every August.