Labour leader Joseph Muscat and MP Joseph Cuschieri, who is giving up his parliamentary seat so that Dr Muscat can be coopted to Parliament this evening spoke during a visit to the Montecristo wine vaults.

Dr Muscat thanked Mr Cuschieri for having offered him his seat in the House even before the Labour leadership election.

“Joe’s gesture is a sign of absolute loyalty to our ideal... The Labour Party should be proud to have people such as Joe within it and I encourage him to continue working within the party,” Dr Muscat said.

Mr Cuschieri said that the decision had not been easy but he took it with a clear conscience in the interest of the party and the country.

He said that he was resigning because that was what the party needed at this time, and he was taking his decision because of his loyalty and love for the MLP.

Dr Muscat also spoke on illegal immigration saying that alarming levels had been reached this summer. The government, Dr Muscat said, should be strong at the EU next week, when new rules regarding immigration would be finalised.

“We have to be tough with politicians and not desperate immigrants. If Malta is not given the resources it needs and the system is not good enough to cater for this emergency, the government should not agree to the new regulations,” Dr Muscat said.

The Times revealed earlier this week that the government was holding out on agreement on a new EU Immigration Pact until the pack includes a reference to burden-sharing.