Charles Spanswick has abandoned his plans to take over the government.

He was taken by surprise by Premier Jennifer Smith's announcement of a July 24 election date and says his campaign machinery will not be ready to contest the elections this summer.

“No we're not going to field candidates. I'm not ready for it,” he said. “I was talking to (the National Liberal Party's (Graeme Outerbridge) on the possibility of taking over their membership but he said there was nothing there to take over.”

The three time mayoral candidate last month announced his ambitions to take over Government with a slate of nine independent candidates - one for each parish - who will be voted in at the upcoming elections. He had also promised that his organisation - “The Independent Group Four a Better Bermuda” - would unveil a slate of at least five candidates this month.

But now, he says, the organisation will be defunct.

He added that three candidates would have been introduced at the town hall meeting, but refused to name them.