An anti-divorce Facebook group which has already garnered the support of 1,500 members has been joined by Nationalist MPs Franco Debono and Edwin Vassallo.

But when contacted, Dr Debono said he could not really remember joining the group.

“If you say I’m on the group, then yes I’m on the group. I’m taking your word for it. I’m not contesting it... In principle, I am not in favour of divorce. But there is an ongoing discussion and I intend to follow it...”

He stressed, however, that he was not one to take a “frontline” stance on this issue and there were other MPs for that. He said he was more interested in issues such as the South and the right to a lawyer when under arrest.

Mr Vassallo, on the other hand, was more convinced about his membership in the group and said he was yet to be persuaded that divorce could remedy the situation today.

“I’ve been saying this... I am convinced because I know the consequences that divorce has had abroad. As chairman of the Social Affairs Committee I’m constantly in touch with the consequences of separation. I think divorce will just make the pain worse.”

The group also attracted the much loved sexagenarian rock ‘n roll star Freddie Portelli, ironically famous for his break-up song Mur u Ħallini (Go and leave me alone).

The group, entitled “We say no to divorce in Malta”, starts by pointing out that Malta is one of only two countries in the world which does not permit divorce.

“We aim at gathering those who understand that we should not follow where others have failed. It is our conviction, supported by statistics, that divorce should not be legalised.”

The group’s young creators, Benjamin Camilleri and Alexander Vivian Grima, appealed for anyone who does not favour divorce to join the group, regardless of their reasons.

“Many people argue that divorce is unholy and it goes against the wishes of God and the Church. At the same time there are those who do not believe in divorce, not for spiritual reasons but more in terms of social morals... This group is aimed at gathering all anti-divorce Maltese people into a single group, whatever the reason may be.

“We may not agree on why divorce should not be introduced in Malta, but we all have a common enemy: Divorce itself.”

When contacted, Mr Camilleri said he had not expected such a “huge and fervent” response but always believed there was a silent majority against divorce which is afraid of making its voice heard.

In fact he said he had “no qualms” about there being a referendum on the issue.