GSD says Government trying to 'maximise control'; Number Six says this is 'completely wrong'

The GSD says the Government not giving the Opposition Leader the McGrail report until 24 hours before publication tells a big story.

It says this is a "transparent attempt at minimising notice when the Government itself is obviously preparing for the coming public debate".

The Government, however, says Keith Azopardi will have more time to consider the report than he would if he were the Opposition Leader in the UK.

The GSD says by the time the McGrail Inquiry report is published, the Government will have had it for at least 39 days, and the press for at least 12 days.

It says by the Government's own admission, the publication is being held back so the Chief Minister can be available to have a say in "the foreseeable public debate".

It says, therefore, for Number Six to confirm it won't provide an embargoed copy to Keith Azopardi until 24 hours before publication speaks volumes about its desire to control the initial presentation of the report.

Keith Azopardi says this is not about the GSD weaponising anything, but about "a desperate GSLP Government" which is "fully aware of its conclusions seeking to maximise control of its delivery to the public".

For its part, Number Six says the story "is the opposite of what Mr Azopardi is pretending".

It says it shows the Government is prepared to allow him longer to study the report than he would have if he were in the "mother of all parliaments" in the UK - demonstrating his theory is "entirely wrong".