The PM's "no" vote raised more than a few eyebrows and quite a number of hackles, and truth be told, it did jar somewhat, though there is something to be said for his arguments and his consistency, about which you can read my column next Saturday.

But I got more than a touch annoyed when on Facebook I read a smug and twee post by Owen Bonnici, a young Labour MP, who said:

"Lawrence Gonzi se jkun imnizzel fl-istorja ta' Malta bhala l-uniku Prim Ministru li mar kontra r-rieda tal-maggoranza kif espressa mill-poplu f'referendum ... kif spicca GonziPN! Minn partit jitkellem fuq l-Ewropa u drittijiet Ewropej irriduca lilu nnifsu f'partit mmexxi minn bniedem li ma jiddejjaq xejn li, fi kliem ta' gewwa mieghu stess, jagixxi kontra d-demokrazija, b'mod dittatorjali!"

According to Dr Bonnici, if I may translate, Gonzi will be the first and only Prime Minister who will go down in history as having gone against the will of the people as expressed in a referendum. 

In typical barrack-room lawyer fashion, this encapsulates Labour's thinking.  Sound-bites and playing to the gallery are way more important for Labour than respecting history, to say nothing of people's consciences.  Bonnici blithely ignores Mintoff's refusal to accept the will of the majority of the electorate expressed in a General Election, clinging to power for five more years in 1981.   He also ignores Sant's refusal to accept the EU referendum, for that matter.  

According to Bonnici, it is Gonzi's acceptance of the referendum result, his assurance that the divorce bill will pass, which it will, as yesterday's vote proved amply, that is a dictatorial position that works against democracy, and this simply because Gonzi, for better or for worse, stuck to what he believed was his obligation to vote according to his conscience.

No, Dr Bonnici, acting against democracy is what Mintoff, who you sometimes make clear you so admire, did in 1981 and Sant tried to do a few years ago and dictatorial methods were adopted, many will tell you, by your hero Mintoff.

Take a few history lessons, my friend.