The Times ended its leader of January 21 by labelling Labour’s MPs’ devolution of the extra cash of their honorarium hike (or part of it) as a “grand political gimmick”. After taking to task the Prime Minister about this travesty of social justice, this newspaper just could not help delivering its final thrust to Labour so as to implicate it in this mess, so as to be super partes. Had the leader spared that ending The Times’s credibility would have reaped great benefit.

I am sure the leader writer is not so politically naïve as to suppose that a party would not try to gain political mileage if the opposing party slips up. And, my goodness, this was no slip-up but a stumble of biblical proportions!

So what would The Times have deemed as proper conduct by Labour? Take the money and shut up? Or worse, take the money and cry scandal thus being an accessory to the fact? Should the money have been refused?

Making the assumption that Labour’s move is a gimmick only confirms that Joseph Muscat has played his cards well. He and the Labour MPs are putting their money where their mouth is. The Labour Party is always whining about the increase in poverty. Instead of only lip service and spin, the Labour parliamentary group is contributing the whole or part of the pay hike to set up an independent fund to be administered independently by the eminent Judge Philip Sciberras. Such a fund is intended to help families and persons in need.

I, for one, would welcome such “gimmicks” if they help alleviate some of the financial and social distress many are enduring. It is a real pity the other side do not have the social attributes to follow suit. The end is nigh.