A backbench motion on the economy triggered a marathon debate lasting more than 13 hours in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Politicians from both sides were on their feet through the early hours as the all-encompassing, election-style debate ? focusing on the PLP's handling of Bermuda's purse strings ? rumbled from about 5 p.m. on Friday until 6.30 a.m. on Saturday.

Nearly 20 of the 36 members spoke; some for longer than an hour.

Despite talk of elections flying across the House at some stages, ministers privately dismissed claims that the tone of Friday's point-scoring debate meant the starting gun had now been fired ahead of a summer or autumn election.

Premier Alex Scott, one of the few politicians in the House who did not speak on the motion, later said he believed it was the longest sitting at the House since the debate on the abolition of capital punishment in 1999.

The lengthy debate started with a 57-page report read by Government MP . He asked MPs to note "seven successive years of economic growth" and policy objectives such as affordable housing and youth development.

Amid loud criticism from Opposition members who claimed Mr. Blakeney broke House rules by reading from a prepared statement ? he said he was referring to notes ? the MP gave a detailed departmental breakdown of Government policies since 1998.

Trumpeting Government's handling of the economy, he said that since taking office Government had undertaken a series of small, "but vital", reforms to bring about greater fairness in tax distribution.

"Bermuda has been blessed as a result of our astute economic policy and sound fiscal management," said Mr. Blakeney, to jeers from the Opposition benches.

They later said economic growth had been "pedestrian at best" and almost entirely dependent on international business.

Mr Blakeney, however, said positive AA ratings had been received from tough financial assessors. Public debt management has been "prudent" while financial services laws were modernised.

Since 1998, he said the GDP had grown more than 24 per cent, household income for more than 50 per cent of Bermuda's families was now higher than $71,000 per year and more than 3,400 jobs had been created. More than 2,900 new international companies had set up on the Island, while 694 new local firms had started up.

Bermuda continued to set the pace in global insurance. And overall Government had "budgeted well" and controlled expenditures "exceedingly well". Advances in housing and senior care were achieved because it had managed the economy effectively, added Mr. Blakeney.

"You would think that the people of Bermuda have never had it so good," Opposition Whip retorted. "Ask the teachers, ask the police, ask the taxi drivers, ask the young and old, have you never had it so good?"

He added that the Government was taking credit for the growth in international business when, as an Opposition, they had spoken out against courting such companies.

He questioned Mr. Blakeney's comment that the country was in good financial shape. He said: "Does he live in the same country as I do? Who can forget the Bermuda Housing Corporation? Are we supposed to forget that, the fact that they wrote of $8-10 million and that it happened in their (Government's) seven successive years? And the Berkeley Institute and the special tendering process, that is the biggest failed experiment in economic empowerment. That was supposed to be a monument to first class education and now it's a monument to mismanagement.

"We're at $120 million at least and no one knows how much the closed door arbitration (with ProActive, the company originally hired to build the school) will cost in legal fees.

"We've also had an Auditor's General report ... he said that he could not sign off on $800 million. And this is their good financial management?"

Finance Minister said: "While there may be issues that, if you reflect on it, could have been done better it is factless and fictitious to point to big cars and travel as what you see when you look at this Government."

Telecommunications Minister said the UBP had adopted Government's "line and length" on many policies. "It's a complete flattery and confirmation of our success," he added.

Responding to repeated criticism about the $50 million overspend at the troubled new Berkeley project and the Bermuda Housing Corporation fraud, Mr. Scott said it was "vacuous" to point to a "fixed number of challenges", which Government acknowledged.

He urged voters not to be misled by the UBP's talk of consultants because new partnerships had to be formed locally and internationally in order to work on a mandate of "radical change". He added that in a multi-billion dollar economy, Government should be applauded for its spending restraint.

Opposition Finance Minister , however, said that Mr. Scott lived in his own "fantasy world".

She was "amazed" with Mr. Scott's "cavalier" approach to overspending at Berkeley and Government could not just say: "That's just the way it is."

Ms Gordon Pamplin says that average family income statistics and figures on the number employed Bermudians were misleading.

A significant amount of the money that flowed into Bermuda came from international business, particularly the insurance industry, she stated, and the PLP inherited a regulatory framework that helped attract new companies. She accepted this framework had been enhanced, but most new business came as a result of world-wide catastrophes, she said, and Government had no control over hurricanes or 9/11. Addressing "hard-working Bermudians", Sports Minister , said they would continue to support the PLP because they realised the alternative was derision from the UBP.

He said there have been a number of successes in his ministry and reeled off scholarships, events, activities and organisations his Ministry has funded. "We were expected to fail at the first hurdle but we made it to the first finish line and we will make it again in the next election."

Shadow Minister of Health said the Government could not claim a success in health when certain nursing homes were left without administrators for years and people with mental health issues were moved from building to building. Government did not do enough for seniors, she added.

However, Health Minister said Ms Jackson was wrong to characterise her Government so negatively because most people receiving financial aide were seniors ? and pensions had risen. She added that she had recently tabled a report on elderly abuse and was working with Age Concern.

Opposition backbencher said Mr. Blakeney's speech was "pandering drivel". Dr. Gibbons said that economic growth had been "pedestrian at best" and almost entirely dependent on international business.

He pointed to the slowdown in new insurance and exempt companies coming to Bermuda since 2001 ? and compared the current international business situation to the tourism slump of the 80s. Warning signs were there, he stated, and it would be very foolish to ignore them.

Dr. Gibbons said there had been a $200 million rise in the tax burden on residents and businesses over the last five years, as the civil service ballooned. "It's not a record this Government should be proud of."

Former Premier said: "Now the new UBP are like Christopher Columbus: they have discovered the poor and elderly. We have always made social issues our passion and we have delivered.

"I look forward to the time when the public will show the UBP what they think of them."

Opposition leader said Government's aims had been to implement "fiscal discipline in all matters and a new form of revenue management". "But when I look at the report from the Auditor General it says the financial position has deteriorated in the last three years." He added that the Auditor General also said there was "fraud" and "lax internal controls". Mr. Furbert questioned why until this year the Government had only put $2 million into housing when one of their key issues, they said, was affordable housing.

Opposition Minister without Portfolio said the motion was a "disgrace" and added: "Next time bring a real motion please, don't bring an embarrassment to this Government."

Education Minister said: "Every experience is a good experience because it is a learning experience but overall Bermuda is in a good economic position. " He also pointed to the fact that the Government has $30 million less debt than when the UBP handed over power. "We have taken a lot of licks and here we are collectively pushing out our chests because we made a decision to empower people who have not had a chance," he said.

Government Whip, was last to speak . The motion was exactly what the country needed, he said, and a chance to reflect on the positives There was just one conclusion, he said, "you never had it so good".

Pat Gordon Pamplin later told that the Opposition decided to speak for so long because it thought Mr Blakeney read from his notes.

Ottiwell Simmons said once Government heard about the UBP's plan to talk until next morning, the debate continued because Government had to respond.

"It concluded when virtually everyone had been given an opportunity to speak," he said. "It was exhausting."