[LIVE] Follow our live blog from Labour's rally at the Valletta waterfront

Welcome to our live-blog, reporting live from Labour's first rally of the election campaign at the Valletta waterfront.

19:52 Labour's rally ends here. Thank you for following us.

19:45 Muscat's speech ends here followed by a three-minute feature entitled 'Missier Missirijietna'. The short film featured three youths talking about the fear of change with an elderly telling them that the Maltese never feared change and they should therefore not fear it. 

19:36 Joseph Muscat says that people yearn change. "We will make our case to change the leadership of this country. There will be those who will try and scare you. They haven't understood that politics of fear are yesterday's politics. People don't want division. If you want a change in direction, come with us. Your place is here. Take part and participate, don't be spectators. Because we know that we can reach far. What others failed to do we can achieve." 

Turning to the youths, Muscat urged them to be "ambitious".

"No clique, no party, no individual has the right to make this country his own. Because education belongs to all of us, social justice belongs to all of us... just like democracy, a better quality of life. Because Malta should once again belong to all of us. Open your arms and welcome everyone. Everyone who feels proud to be Maltese, Gozitan, those who want to be on the right side of history... those who feel proud to say that Malta belongs to all of us," Muscat said as the crowd once again erupted in a loud cheer. 

19:33 The Labour leader says that "it is now time for a change". He reiterates that the achievements do not belong to one party or another but "of the whole of Malta". 

"We want a hospital that delivers in time, economic growth, a better quality of life, cheaper utility bills and for businesses to grow and prosper. A free and just society so everyone can achieve... students, elderly, workers, self-employed and businesses. I urge you to join this movement, to be one because Malta is for all."

19:29 Muscat says Malta continued moving ahead and it joined the European Union. "But now we aspire to be the best in Europe. When I think about our past I am humbled. A country that grew from nothing. It's not important which political party took us through each step."

"We built the welfare state, we gave children's allowance, we gave a roof to those who were homeless, we eradicated poverty and we built a middle class. And now we will continue fighting poverty, we have removed homosexuality as a crime and we must now give new rights, we built Sea Malta and Air Malta. We will be there helping parents of disabled children. We gave rights to workers and we gave a dignified life to our children."

19:22 "With courage and enthusiasm I look forward so together we take this country forward. There are people who instigate division but we are the movement that opens the doors to everyone. There were those who left us because they didn't feel at home. However, today they are back... back with the progressive, liberals and moderate. And together we can make this country the best in Europe."

Muscat says that he, who hails from a family with different political views, can see Malta united as one. "It's a privilege for me to ask you, the courageous Maltese who never gave up in front of obstacles, to trust me." He went on to hail Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Fortunato Mizzi, Manwel Dimech and those who lost their lives during the Sette Giugno events. He recounts Malta's history and its walk through Independence and when Malta became a Republic.

"When Malta wrote its Constitution and we continued growing because Malta always believed in itself."

19:19 "Malta, the country built on its people, on the work... Malta the country for all of us", says Muscat in his opening speech. He lauds the hard-working Maltese who despite everything work hard and the country was able to face the obstacles. "No result carries the mark of a political party but the colours of the Maltese flag."

19:18 Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle arrive as the crowds explodes in loud cheers.

19:13 As Joseph Muscat's arrival is announced, what will seem to be Labour's trademark song New Tomorrow plays again... Lyrics include "Come on boys, come on girls/in this crazy, crazy world/you're the diamonds, you're the pearls/let's make a new tomorrow". The song, by Danish pop band A Friend in London, represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

19:06 Joseph Muscat's speech expected to start in around 10 minutes. Supporters are armed with placards reading 'Malta for all' and 'Muscat 2013'.

19:00 And of course last year's pop hit PSY's Gangnam Style also makes it to the PL's rally. Labour this evening also launched a website for the campaign, www.josephmuscat.com. 

18:52 Good evening and welcome to our live-blog, live from the tent at the Valletta waterfront. Hundreds have gathered down here on the quey waiting for Labour leader Joseph Muscat to address the party faithful. So far, it sounds more like a party than a political activity with songs like New Tomorrow, David Guetta's Without You and Rihanna's Diamonds.