The man entrusted to draw up the Labour Party's electoral manifesto, Karmenu Vella, said this evening the PL is ready to govern and armed with a strong, compact programme of work, it will show the people how it can do things differently.

Addressing the second day of the party's general conference which comes to an end tomorrow week, Mr Vella said that the uncertainty in the country was the result of a government which was imploding.

"We are ready to take over... We have one team, one leader and one direction."

PL deputy leader for party affairsToni Abela said that what has happening to the Nationalist Party was "a sign of the times".

The country was living a historic moment with a Nationalist backbencher rebelling against his own party and party leader.

Franco Debono's pleas, he said, were also the pleas of many who were angry at the authorities who did not have any idea what they were feeling.

He likened Dr Debono's actions to what he had done in the late 1980s when he left Labour to form another party but said the PL had changed radically since then.

The conference was also addressed by Labour leader Joseph Muscat who announced that former general secretary Jason Micallef had accepted his plea to remain heading its television and radio rather than contest the general election as he had wanted. Dr Muscat said Mr Micallef had "gladly accepted".

Mr Micallef stressed he always believed in Dr Muscat and delegates applauded loudly as the two hugged on stage.