Labour leadership contender Michael Falzon is calling on the party to draft a new statute ahead of its annual conference in January so that the party could be better equipped to conduct its work.

“This exercise should be launched immediately after the leadership election so that the draft can be submitted for the vote of the general conference after consultation with the party local and district committees and the membership, Dr Falzon said in a statement.

He did not say what he would like to see changed in the statute, but throughout his leadership campaign Dr Falzon has complained that the statute in the past had been amended far too much to fit particular circumstances, and it was therefore time for a total review.

Dr Falzon said the party also needed to introduce new schemes and incentives to increase its membership.

Party funding also needed to be reviewed.

Dr Falzon said he would back efforts for talks aimed at state funding of political parties, but the MLP also needed to consider other avenues, such as commercial activities.

The party, Dr Falzon said, also needed to strengthen its media. It should consider how it could convey its message in the English language, and its Maltese weekly KullHadd needed to be made more effective. A proper balance needed to be struck between commercial and political aspects with regard to One TV and the role of Super One Radio needed to be changed so that it could attract more listeners.

At the same time, the MLP should not lose any opportunities to make its voice heard on the other media, Dr Falzon said.