The Nationalist Party hit back at Labour Leader Joseph Muscat's speech this morning, saying that each time Labour was in  government, unemployment shot up, and the self-employed and small business owners were the first to be crucified.

“With George Vella as Minister of Industry, over 10,000 people were unemployed. When Leo Brincat was Minister of Finance, and the CET tax replaced VAT, the biggest toll was on families and the self employed.”
 
“Every time Labour was in Government, the educational system was driven off-course, such as the time when Education Minister Evarist Bartolo got rid of stipends and forced students to wade into debt.”
 
“Every time Labour was in government, the public received mediocre health services and second-hand nursing homes, because the government had put a tax on illness.”

The statement also criticised Dr Muscat's hesitant stand on the IVF draft bill, and the 'panic billboards' which 'confirmed' that a Labour government would bring about unemployment.
 
“Every time Labour was in Government, it has boldly displayed its gross incompetence – there's always the frenzy to get to power, with no regards to what happens afterwards. The same will happen if Muscat is Prime Minister.”