Joseph Muscat last night said he had no hard feelings over Labour MP Adrian Vassallo’s comments in which he complained he had been subjected to a “dictatorial” attack by the Labour leader.

“He is obviously hurt,” Dr Muscat told PBS about the anti-divorce MP who has declared he will not contest the next election becausehe feels he no longer has a place within the party.

Interviewed on Bondi+ on Thursday, Mr Vassallo had lashed out at Dr Muscat, saying that he viewed an attack on him after the divorce vote in Parliament as “dictatorial”.

He was referring to Dr Muscat’s comment that Mr Vassallo would “face the consequences” for voting against the divorce Bill.

Dr Vassallo told his interviewer that supporters interpreted this as meaning he had acted against the party and they, therefore should not vote for him. He said he had never expected that sort of attack.

“To insult and attack on TV a standing MP who had been comfortably elected, just for having voted against divorce in a situation where he was told he had a free vote, does not reflect being a moderate, but it smacks of communism or dictatorship,” Dr Vassallo said.

“Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing, but a year has passed and nothing has happened.”

Last night, Dr Muscat said what he had said after the divorce vote last year had been misinterpreted.

He indicated that no further action would be taken by the Labour party.