The Labour Party yesterday accused the government of taking the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development "for a ride" on the water and electricity rates.

The PL said in a statement that the government had promised its social partners in MCESD that it would discuss with them any information it received about the new utility tariffs before anything was made public.

However, the new tariffs were published last Monday without the MCESD having been consulted.

Just a few hours before the new rates were announced, a meeting was held between the MCESD and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, but the council was not informed the tariffs would be published later that day.