Don Camillio in the novel I Promessi Sposi used to ring the church bells whenever the mayor of the town held a meeting in the church square.

This practice, unfortunately, happened once or twice in Malta some decades ago. We are now past the 20th century and in the year 2008.

However, other forms of interruption are practised by quite a few Labour MPs, whether in Parliament or now figuring continously on TV programmes. Cutting out the microphone cannot be done in Parliament, however uncivilised the intervention, but it surely can be done on TV especially if the participants are warned.

Has the Labour Party changed and will it ever do so? I would like to tell the Maltese to look before they leap.

The Maltese proverb advises that "one should hear both bells".