MLP leadership contender George Abela said on Saturday that the party's new leadership should have no connection with the party's electoral defeat.

The change at the top should not just be cosmetic and the new leadership should guarantee a Labour victory in the next election.

He told delegates during a reception in Marsascala that it was important for the party to have a different leadership which attracted a new majority to the party, as had happened in 1996. The party had to be credible in what it said and did and instil in people hope and confidence.

The new leadership, he said, had to offer peace of mind and a better future for the people. The opposition had to be strong, serious and useful to the people. It had to be an opposition which, through its behaviour and its actions, continuously showed it was an alternative government for the country.

Dr Abela said that his first priority if elected leader would be unity within the party. He appealed to delegates to keep an open mind so that, without being under pressure, they would choose the leader who had the right qualities and who was capable of attracting the majority of Maltese and Gozitans so that the MLP would regain the victory it deserved.

Yesterday morning, Dr Abela also met the party's general election candidates and emphasised the need that they kept in direct contact with the leadership providing a voice to the people's complaints and suggestions.