The letter ‘a’ appears twice in the name of Labour’s equal opportunities officer Rachel Tua. If one of these ‘a’s were to be replaced by an ‘e’ the resulting group of letters becomes an anagram of ‘hate ulcer’.

It is indeed very sad that she has given vent to her diatribe on irregular immigrants.

The Labour Party deputy leader, Toni Abela, has condemned this diatribe and rightly so. He did it immediately and without mincing his words.

Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had been equally forthright when he had said that if he heard the cries of a drowning woman he would not hesitate to go to her aid.

Tua would do well to follow the example set by these two gentlemen on the opposite side of the political divide. She still has much to learn, especially about equal opportunities.