MLP councillor votes for EU membership

A Mosta Labour Party councillor last night joined Nationalist councillors in a motion urging people to vote for European Union membership.

Before the vote was taken, MLP councillor Ivan Bartolo read out a declaration at the council meeting saying why he was voting for the motion and urging other Labour supporters to do the same.

"I have been thinking about this decision. I never understood why the MLP is against Malta joining the EU. The MLP forms part of the social-democrats and should be in favour of membership.

"I feel I should join other social democrats and like them urge all Maltese, especially workers, not to lose this unique opportunity and to go to vote in favour of EU membership.

"By voting Yes, Labour supporters would not be negating Labour principles. On the contrary, they would be sustaining their Labour beliefs," Mr Bartolo said.

"I am not defying my party. I will continue to give my services, especially in the social committee which I am chairing. But in this EU business, I feel that the Maltese, especially minority groups, would gain if Malta joined.

"My conscience does not allow me to keep silent and risk that Malta loses such an opportunity. I am and will remain a Labour supporter," Mr Bartolo said.

The motion urging Mosta people to vote yes in the membership referendum was moved by mayor Joe Demartino.

It was carried by seven votes to four - the PN has six councillors in Mosta, the MLP five.

Mr Bartolo was recently asked, by MLP general secretary Jimmy Magro, to choose between his job as editor of Fuq ix-Xarabank, produced by Where's Everybody? which is boycotted by the MLP, and his party seat.

In his reply to Mr Magro, Mr Bartolo said that as he saw no incompatibility between the two posts, he did not feel he should have to choose.

"I believe - and want to continue believing - that the Labour Party believes in genuine Labour principles so that people like me can contribute while exercising their fundamental right to work," Mr Bartolo wrote.