News • 02 February 2003

Confused Labour issues neither here, neither there directive

HAMRUN - The Labour Party national executive yesterday stopped short of ordering a boycott of the referendum leaving all its options open by asking the general conference to approve a motion in which the electorate would be encouraged to do whatever it wants except vote Yes.

The motion discussed yesterday afternoon during a meeting of the national executive and the parliamentary group is expected to be endorsed by the general conference this morning.

Despite saying that the government’s proposal to hold a referendum "can create political uncertainty", the motion makes no reference to the stand the Labour Party will adopt once the referendum result is known.

The motion says that the electorate should be encouraged to, either vote No, invalidate the ballot paper or else not vote at all.

By avoiding the boycott option the Labour Party has found a compromise between those advocating a boycott and others in the party who insist that a referendum cannot be ignored.

It also avoids clashing with the stands adopted by the General Workers’ Union and the Campaign for National Independence, both of which are participating in the referendum campaign by encouraging the electorate to vote No.

In Friday’s session Labour MP Jose Herrera said that he had a lot to say about the referendum. He said that on Sunday (today) he would explain himself on the issue.

However, Dr Herrera cautioned that the decision on the referendum had to be "tackled with courage."

Only last Monday another Labour MP, Louis Buhagiar wrote in The Times that a Labour government would have to accept a Yes vote.