Labour stronghold Żejtun was in a festive mood yesterday morning when party leader Joseph Muscat visited the weekly open market.

Chanting Labour’s slogan Tagħna Lkoll and Joseph, Joseph, housewives and pensioners eagerly gathered at the market to welcome Dr Muscat and his wife Michelle.

Waving Labour flags, they screamed and clapped as he appeared more than 30 minutes late, flocking around his car and barely giving him space to open the door to get out.

He was kissed and hugged and prodded from all angles as he walked through the crowd to meet the stall owners. One woman politely asked his wife for permission to kiss him, with Dr Muscat replying promptly: “You’re the first one to ask, others just go ahead and do it!”

Another woman was shushed when she shouted Viva l-Labour.

Dr Muscat signed several copies of his biography and shook innumerable hands before giving a short speech reiterating Labour’s message of unity.

He told the crowd that while others were leading a negative campaign, Labour wanted to retain a positive message: one of unity and courage.

He said that whereas the Nationalist Party had resorted to personal attacks because they had nothing else to offer, Labour wanted to continue talking about its proposals.

Without taking questions, Dr Muscat was whisked away as soon as he finished his speech.