The United Bermuda Party is calling for a different voting system to be put back on the political agenda.

Acting Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons said it was important to keep an open mind on proportional representation (PR).

Under that system the number of seats a party wins directly correlates to the number of votes cast for them.

Dr. Gibbons said: "The PLP got 55 percent of the vote but 65 percent of the seats. That's two-thirds of the seats.

"A proportional system is something we will have to look at. It's maybe something we should consider more carefully.'' Dr. Gibbons made the statement after the Progressive Labour Party had made noises about slashing the number of MPs as they seek to abolish dual member seats and redraw the electoral boundaries to make them equal in size.

However the PLP is not thought to be seeking to abolish the present voting system -- known as first past the post -- which means the candidate with the most votes in any seat is elected.

Supporters of PR say the current system rarely reflects the percentage of votes cast nationally and means that voters in marginal seats become more important than ones which always return candidates for one particular party.

The UBP last put forward the idea of PR at the 1979 Constitutional Conference at Warwick Camp but the idea has fallen out of favour since then.

Dr. Gibbons slammed Government for failing to inform the public about proposals for changes in the Constitution and said it wasn't clear the reduction in the number of MPs was necessary.

He said: "Constitutional change is dry and not sexy. We have given quite a bit of thought to it ourselves but not taken a firm decision yet. Why fix it if it ain't broke?'' On Tuesday, Dame Lois Browne Evans said Britain had been receptive to the idea of ending twin-seat constituencies -- a long-standing PLP promise.

However Dr. Gibbons said it was important to keep sufficient backbenchers to pressure Cabinet Ministers to perform.

He added: "If you have too few MPs then you end up in the peculiar position of having key joint select committees staffed by Cabinet ministers.

"You need checks and balances from your own backbenchers. If they reduced to 20 MPs there would be a problem in concentrating power in the hands of the Cabinet.

UBP consider PR "You can't look at a single piece when making a change. You need to understand the full ramifications -- political stability is critical. "I am aware the PLP are rushing to effect change.'' Mr. Gibbons said the move could be a result of the lack of progress on housing, tourism and education.

He said: "When there's not much happening on the ground, air cover affects a diversion.'' Independence advocate Phil Perinchief said constituencies should be abolished when the number of the MPs is reduced in favour of having full-time MPs standing on an island-wide party slate elected by proportional representation.

He said the move would end the need for tinkering with seat boundaries.

He said current suggestions hinted at by the PLP to halve the number of MPs to 20 could create stalemate in Parliament.

He said: "What if both parties get ten MPs each? They couldn't form a government. I think we should cut the number of MPs to around 25.

"This would save us around $450,000 a year. We could then increase MP's salaries from $30,000 to $45,000.

"It would make it more palatable so they would not be looking elsewhere for work and would put their best efforts into serving the people.

And he denied that the large number of MPs, with a politician for every 1,500 people, meant that people were better represented.

He said: "That is superficial. We have a great number of churches but that doesn't mean we are the most religious people in the world. An ideal figure would be between 25 and 30 MPs.

"As far as Parliamentary representation goes there are countries in the world with far bigger populations that have fewer representatives.

"They are just more hard-working. It's unwieldy in a Country so small to have so many MPs. There's a politician for every half a square mile. It's laughable.'' "We should abandon the archaic and undemocratic first past the post system.'' He said proportional representation would be much more democratic because it would give independents a chance of challenging the two-party monopoly and allow for more diverse views in parliament.

He also attacked the summer break in the House. He said: "The whole cause of the summer recess in Parliament was put by merchants who did business then.

"It's an historical anachronism which ought to be rectified.

"The current Government should end this if they don't want to be tarnished with the same brush.'' Grant Gibbons