OPPOSITION Leader Grant Gibbons yesterday shrugged off the question of whether his party would attempt to force a Parliamentary motion of no confidence in the leadership of Premier Jennifer Smith.

Such a vote, should the United Bermuda Party choose to force it, could theoretically result in the Governor having to dissolve Parliament if Ms Smith could not show that most MPs backed her as leader.

The Premier's position has been a matter of public debate all week after a behind-closed-doors meeting of MPs from the governing Progressive Labour Party reportedly ended in a hung vote on whether she should continue to lead the Government.

Of the 18 PLP MPs at last week's meeting at Sessions House, nine voted for Ms Smith and nine voted against her.

But if Dr. Gibbons smelt blood, he was remaining tight-lipped about it yesterday.

When asked if the UBP would table a no confidence motion, Dr. Gibbons said: "I can't comment on that at all.

"What I can say about the Premier's position is that we are concerned about it and we are watching the situation closely like everyone else." PLP backbencher Dale Butler said it was important that the country's interests should now come ahead of political concerns. And he believed the Premier would survive any no confidence vote.

"If a vote was taken in the House, then Jennifer Smith would remain Premier," said Mr. Butler.

"I think most of the issues have already been resolved internally, but I think it's important now that we think of the best interests of the country before what's good for the PLP."

Mr. Butler declined to say anything about whether he had voted in last week's secret ballot.

Political analyst Walton Brown said yesterday the UBP's reluctance to spell out their plans was understandable.

"Political parties will always try to take advantage from the challenges faced by their opposition," said Mr. Brown. "So clearly the UBP will try to identify a way to enhance their own electability. I think that's why they are sitting back and observing and not saying much about it now.

"Whether they succeed by forcing an election depends on how the public perceives it. The public is going to be upset at any group they hold responsible for forcing an election that they perceive to be unnecessary at this time.

"If there were an election now, many people would not understand how it came about. There might be a degree of frustration at having to go to the polls unexpectedly. And I don't think it's something that would benefit the governing party at this time."