A Labour government will back every entity that creates jobs and guide them over the obstacles, party leader Alfred Sant pledged yesterday.

It would not deride factories or the manufacturing industry, which had provided the livelihood for families for years; every entity was precious and would be sustained.

Addressing a large crowd in Żurrieq, which spilled out of the marquee into the village square, Dr Sant stressed that his government will cut through red tape to spur investment.

"We met industrialists, who sought to set up shop in Malta, but the government wasted over two years to give them a reply and now they've lost faith.

"We're telling these people, come back after March 8 - we mean business," he said to loud applause.

After announcing the proposal to revive the helicopter service between Malta and Gozo, his party was already receiving offers from foreign companies wishing to provide this service, which will be subsidised.

Labour spokesman on industry, Chris Agius said a Labour government will create a task force to find out what was hindering the manufacturing industry.

Deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon condemned the rowdy behaviour by university students, who booed Dr Sant during a debate among the four party leaders on campus, on Monday.

Dr Falzon questioned whether university students were reading for a "doctorate in intolerance"; a sheer sign of the need for immediate change.

Dr Mangion added that he had expected the Prime Minister to ask the students to stop, if he truly believed in a democratic dialogue.

"Is this the arrogance of the future? A generation of intolerance and disrespect?" he asked.

The event in Żurrieq was the last leg of a journey that yesterday took the Coach of Change through the narrow streets of several villages in the fifth district - Safi, Kirkop, Mqabba and Qrendi. The district includes also Birżebbuġa, Marsaxlokk and Bubaqra.

At each stop, Dr Sant delivered a common message. His rhetoric focused on a change that will give the country a fresh boost; a tranquil change that was free of corruption. He encouraged the crowd to pass on this message, but to respect the fact that everybody had a right to their opinion, without being booed down.

At each village, Dr Sant addressed small crowds of supporters who gave him an enthusiastic welcome.