Labour leader Joseph Muscat reiterated this morning that his party would not make electoral promises it could not keep.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the people were deceived before the last election when the PN made three key promises which it later did not keep. They were about a major income tax cut, effective Mepa reform and reducing hospital waiting lists.

"The government failed spectacularly in all three promises," Dr Muscat said.

Responding to criticism that the PL was not being clear about its plans and proposals, Dr Muscat pointed out that the three major promises which he had mentioned had been made very close to the election in 2008.  Therefore he did not see why the Labour Party should discuss its proposals in detail now.

Indeed, the prime minister was not even discussing what would happen in the coming days if a vote of no confidence was moved in his health minister.

The Labour leader defended his position on not raising the minimum wage before economic growth and said it was obvious that cost of living increases would continue to be given. By implying otherwise, the prime minister was attacking the social partners, who agreed with Labour's position, Dr Muscat said.

In his press conference Dr Muscat focussed on the party congress, held last week, and reiterated the promise to reduce power tariffs. The government lacked an energy policy and was speaking about converting the power station to gas even before commissioning it using heavy fuel oil, he said. That step should have been taken at the outset. He also asked what had become of wind farm plans.

The Labour leader said the government and the opposition were never as distinct as today even in areas such as civil liberties and social welfare.