East by-election.

He said last night: "I think the people of Paget East need to have another choice.'' Traditionally, the constituency has been considered a United Bermuda Party stronghold.

But Mr. Parker, who lives in Warwick, believes there could be a backlash against the UBP.

"The UBP have made a lot of errors, and the voters may wish to send some message.'' Mr. Parker contested Paget East in the general election last year, polling just 112 votes.

He trailed UBP stalwarts Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and the late Hon. John Stubbs, whose death prompted the by-election.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sanders Frith-Brown announced last night he would not be running after all as an Independent.

He pulled out because he did not want to take any votes away from his friend Mr. Parker.

Mr. Frith-Brown described Mr. Parker as "basically an Independent'' because the NLP was no longer a proper party.

"I am against party politics.'' Dr. Stubbs, a veteran Parliamentarian and founding member of the UBP, died on June 7 after a long fight with cancer.

The Hon. Grant Gibbons and Dr. Edward Harris have entered the June 28 UBP primary to succeed him.