RUMOURS of a snap General Election in the summer are nothing but Opposition "political wish-fulfilment", according to Government.

In recent weeks some in political circles have suspected that the Premier will call an election in the next few months, citing certain "clues" as evidence. Government has more than two years to call an election, which must be held before July 2008.

Political commentator and United Bermuda Party member Christian Dunleavy, on his web site politics.bm, recently wrote: "The planets are clearly lining up (or being lined up) for an election sooner rather than later."

Mr. Dunleavy listed a number of pointers suggesting that the Premier could call a General Election soon, including the fact that legislation addressing MP pay rises and pensions is set to be rubber stamped imminently.

And he said the Premier's recent trip to Washington, the pulling of unpopular projects in key areas and "contrived press events dressing up policy failures as successes" all indicated that Government was gearing up for an election by addressing its public image.

UBP politicians echoed Mr. Dunleavy's view, saying that a General Election was certainly a possibility this year ? with summer being the favoured time to go to the polls. Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz said: "In 2003 the election was held around the time of Cup Match, which represents the abolition of slavery. It's also a time when a lot of white people are off the island. Also the Premier announced that he would be making three 'State of the Nation' addresses in April, May and June which made me ask, is the Premier planning an election for July?"

Mr. Moniz added that Government now seemed prepared to step down on unpopular issues, such as its plan to build homes on Mary Victoria Road. The scheme was dropped following protests from residents.

"There's just a number of little things that are going on at the moment and if it's not going to be this year, it'll be next year so there's an even 50 per cent chance it will be held in the next few months," he said.

Party Whip John Barritt agreed that rumours of an election had been circulating, but that that was not unusual.

"I have heard talk that there's going to be a snap election ? but then again there's talk of an election every year," he said.

"You should never let your guard down and always be alert, although I tend to be a little cynical. But it wouldn't surprise me when you look at some of the about-faces that the PLP has carried out recently. There was the housing project at Mary Victoria Road which they suddenly dropped because it was unpopular with residents there."

But last night the Progressive Labour Party moved to quash talk of an early election.

Party member Rolfe Commissiong denied the rumour and accused the Opposition of wishful-thinking.

"Yes, I've heard the rumours but they seem to be coming from the United Bermuda Party," he said.

"I suspect it's just wish-fulfilment on their part ? there really is nothing in it. When you're in Opposition you're always trying to find out and that means sometimes resorting to reading the tea leaves ? it's pure speculation and it's not borne out by any rational indicators.

"These rumours go around every six months after a Government's first 18 months into a new term."

Party spokesman Scott Simmons was just as emphatic.

"At the moment we are far more interested in making sure that we continue to work for the people of Bermuda," he said.

"We have a number of programmes in areas such as affordable housing and we need to be dealing with the matters of the day. A General Election is something that we're not talking about or even thinking about right now.

"We are continuing to work hard on education, making sure are seniors are well cared for, making sure we have a good relationship with international business, that our young people are educated, and that our relationship with the US prospers. Basically, we've got enough on our plate as it is."