Busuttil says PM 'used' the 'soldiers of steel'

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this evening accused the Prime Minister of "using" Labour's 'soldiers of steel' for electoral ends. Addressing a political activity in Zebbug's main square, Dr Busuttil said the Prime Minister's recent appeal to Labour's hardcore to go out and vote was hypocritical. "It is clear that an election is round the corner because the Prime Minister did the same last year and once elected, the government forgot the soldiers of steel... Instead he showered in gold the soldiers of the inner circle," Dr Busuttil said. He insisted that while the soldiers of steel faced growing unemployment - he referred to NSO statistics that show registered unemployment reaching almost 8,000 - the Prime Minister's inner circle received lucrative government-paid jobs. Dr Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of using people and then dumping them, mentioning former health minister Godfrey Farrugia as a prime example. "I am confident that this time around the soldiers of steel can see through the Prime Minister's deceit," he added. Turning to his party's fortunes in the forthcoming MEP election, Dr Busuttil said it was "impossible" to overcome a 35,000 vote deficit in just a...