You could see it in their red bulging eyes as they spat out their attacks on Gonzi as if he had stolen their grandmother’s purse on her deathbed.

We have to admit however that this issue has damaged the PN’s standing considerably, even with thir own members, and the PN has to perforce resort to some serious damage control, if they want to retrive some of their credibility.

I recently heard David Agius (not my favourite PN MP, but still) on the radio, and he very convincingly proved that the LP was more than aware of the increases, and thus the crocodile tears Muscat and his merry band are crying are pure ‘facciolizmu’.

I suggest that the PN should take out full page adverts in the independent press and on state TV highlighting the relevant information and documented evidence Agius spoke about.

Let’s put an end to this farce – after all, what’s wrong with ministers and parliamentary secretaries having a decent salary, which is comparable to top civil servants and less than many CEOs of parastatal bodies?

The message, which in any normal country would have been greeted with derision, is: “Vote Labour so Joseph Muscat can add another feather in his cap.”

On the contrary, it is extremely clear: “Vote Labour ghax nafu naghmlu l-magiks.”

I am still confused as to what they identified as wrong in both cases. With the salary increases, it was obviously not a matter of insensitivity to people who can’t make ends meet, because I haven’t seen them rush to refuse the extra money.

If this is the way they will tackle issues when they are in government, then this country is going to descend into complete chaos.

U l-Awditur Generali li kieku xamm xi haga procedurali tintenn ma’ kienx jitkellem?

Issa jew dat-tnejn kienu reqdin raqda tajba jew inkella Joseph qed jghaddina passata ikeskisna kontra Gonzi.

Ghax tghid Dr Mangion l-anqas fetah halqu fuq din il-bicca. Forsi qed jaspira li jsir ministru? Jew kien jaf, ghax mal-flus mhux la kemm tilaghblu

Yes, Matt, this is noticed by all those who read The Times every day. It looks as if the PL have been playing their cards right and making sure that ‘their’ people get jobs there. Have you heard about PL complaints to The Times these past months?

[Daphne – Let’s be fair. It’s actually about one or two people being allowed to pursue their personal agenda, possibly because nobody in authority has noticed that it has got out of hand. When you employ somebody who was politically active against the Nationalist Party, you can’t expect him to ditch his bias when covering stories.]

There’s something about Maltese poltics which approaches homoeroticism in its physicality. The hands reaching out. The pat on the back. Carrying the prime minister shoulder-high. The prodding, the jostling, the huffing and puffing, and the pasty grins on heavy jowls.