Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this evening accused the Prime Minister of "using" Labour's 'soldiers of steel' for electoral ends.

Addressing a political activity in Zebbug's main square, Dr Busuttil said the Prime Minister's recent appeal to Labour's hardcore to go out and vote was hypocritical.

"It is clear that an election is round the corner because the Prime Minister did the same last year and once elected, the government forgot the soldiers of steel... Instead he showered in gold the soldiers of the inner circle," Dr Busuttil said.

He insisted that while the soldiers of steel faced growing unemployment - he referred to NSO statistics that show registered unemployment reaching almost 8,000 - the Prime Minister's inner circle received lucrative government-paid jobs.

Dr Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of using people and then dumping them, mentioning former health minister Godfrey Farrugia as a prime example.

"I am confident that this time around the soldiers of steel can see through the Prime Minister's deceit," he added.

Turning to his party's fortunes in the forthcoming MEP election, Dr Busuttil said it was "impossible" to overcome a 35,000 vote deficit in just a year.

"We can win back people's trust over time," he said, adding the party had lost a number of people who 10 years ago voted for EU accession.

The PN leader said the party would be working in an honest way to win back the trust of those it had lost along the way for various reasons.

He then appealed to those who voted PN last year, urging them to go out and vote. "We need to send a message on May 24 to the government that with a 35,000 vote advantage and a nine-seat majority, power should not go to its head."