When I declared my intention to run for Labour leader, I said that I was ready to lead and ready to serve. Last Thursday evening the Labour delegates told me very clearly that they do not want me to lead. And that I will do. I will not lead in any formal position within the party, not even as a deputy leader despite a whispering campaign in the last two months that I was not really interested in getting the top job, but only in becoming deputy leader for parliamentary affairs. Delegates were kindly told they should not waste their vote voting for me for leader as then they could vote for me as deputy leader!
Let me make it clear: at the very beginning I was ready to serve as deputy leader for parliamentary affairs and put my experience and abilities at the disposal of one of the contenders for leadership. But I was told very clearly that I was not wanted. So it is too late now. Those who did not consider me good for the post of deputy leadership two months ago cannot expect me to trample over my own self respect and dignity and beg again for the post now.
But I will continue to serve the thousands of citizens who have since 1992 been electing me to parliament from two districts. They have never let me down and I am not going to let them down now. I will continue to serve them to the best of my ability. I will also continue to work for the values of social justice, liberty and equality that made me decide to join the Labour Party. Those values will continue to guide my actions and inspire my political behaviour and contribution to policy making. I still think we have to work hard to become a strong Opposition party and we still have to work harder to become a credible alternative government. But we can only grow if we heal the rifts that we have and unify our party in a real way and not just cosmetically.
I waged a positive campaign and my consistent message was one of unity. I have been in the party long enough to see beyond my own personal interests and ambitions. Lots of people were surprised that I turned up at the activities of the other four contenders. Mine was a gesture to show that I really meant what I said. Some of my (perhaps former) friends were and are still angry at me for doing that. But I would do it all over again.
Attending their activities was the least thing I could do. When one of them contested the post of deputy leadership for the party 16 years ago I had withdrawn my own candidature. When another contested on the same district in the last general election I signed his nomination when he applied to become a candidate. For another one who is not in parliament and needs somebody to give up his parliamentary seat to enable him to enter parliament, I agreed that I should be in favour of giving up the tenth district to facilitate this process. I have no regrets in doing this, because it is good for the party and helps me to compensate for the other weaknesses and flaws in my character.
During my campaign I also did my best to heal wounds and repair relationships that had been damaged over the last 16 years. In the last weeks I met Dom Mintoff, George Abela and George Vella. I spoke to Alfred Sant. I made contact with all the different currents in the party. I immersed myself in the party’s history but at the same time discussed the future challenges that we face as a party and as a country.
Beyond the party delegates I met many people and organizations in Malta and Gozo from all walks of life: entrepreneurs, artists, people in sports, people engaged in issues of disabilities, students and lecturers, activists involved in safeguarding our historical and natural heritage, animal welfare, media, tourism, industry, unions and a lot of non-government organizations. This campaign has enriched me and I am glad that I went through it.
The delegates have voted for change. I hope that they will get it and that it will not be the kind of change described by Tommaso di Lampedusa in ‘Il Gattopardo’: “the more things change, the more they remain the same.”