Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday said he would continue to campaign in favour of divorce the way his forefathers campaigned to bring about other important social changes throughout history.

Although he stressed that he tolerated divergent views on the subject within his party and would respect any referendum outcome, he said he believed strongly in compassion and European values and would continue to campaign even if he were the last one standing.

“I cannot remain silent because I am in politics out of conviction and not because of convenience,” he said, comparing divorce to social milestones such as the right to vote, the setting up of free healthcare and education, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the separation of Church and state.

On the other hand, he criticised the Nationalist Party for being “confessional” and “theocratic” in its handling of divorce, adding that the party had been “hijacked” by a few people who had all the wrong priorities.

In an impassioned May Day speech in Hamrun that lasted more than an hour, Dr Muscat steered clear of mentioning the hot topic of irregular immigration, after being criticised by the Nationalists, among others, and praised by those on the far right for his harsh comments on the subject. Instead, he focused on workers’ rights and family policies.

“Our family policy is not about beating our chests and saying how we are against divorce but creating work and building a strong economy.”

He said two married couples were separating every day and according to studies, the main cause was a financial one. He said his policies would focus on giving people dignified work and for their burdens to be reduced. Here he slammed the “immoral” hikes in energy tariffs and the high tax rates on fuel.

Referring to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s recent comment about Our Lady being sad because Malta is considering divorce, Dr Muscat said families were more moved when they received their bills. Dr Muscat laid into Cabinet for granting its members a €500 increase per week, rather than finding the money to help families cope with economic burdens. Referring to the fact that his own “double salary” had not materialised, he said: “You (the government) are not denying me anything. I said from day one I would donate the money. You are denying the money from the charities which would have benefitted.” The Opposition leader also criticised the government for being itself guilty of contracting people below the minimum wage, something Labour, he assured, would never to do.

Dr Muscat also said he wanted to “rekindle the flame of feminism” in the country and create the right environment for women to be able to work, so that the country could capitalise on this great resource and move forward.