weeks yesterday after an angry argument with the Speaker. Progressive Labour Party MPs walked out in support but are expected to return next week.

The suspension took place during the Motion to Adjourn, as United Bermuda Party MPs criticised statements by Mr. Hall earlier this week that four of the Island's most prominent blacks -- the Premier, Chief Justice, Police Commissioner and Senate President - lacked "real power.'' Speaker the Hon. David Wilkinson told Mr. Hall to stop talking during a speech by Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

If Mr. Hall wanted to give a "running commentary'' he should step outside and listen to the debate on the radio, the Speaker said.

Mr. Hall protested. The Speaker told him to leave. Mr. Hall continued his protests and Mr. Wilkinson warned him to leave "or you will be suspended''.

"Suspend me,'' Mr. Hall repeated twice.

"You are suspended,'' the Speaker replied and threatened to call the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort him. Mr. Hall headed for the door but then turned back. "Call the Sergeant-at-Arms to carry me out,'' he said.

While some MPs laughed and others urged him to "cool it'', Mr. Hall stood beside the Speaker's chair and spoke angrily at Mr. Wilkinson.

"You are just exercising your usual bigotry and prejudice in your usual way,'' he said. "This is usual behaviour. Don't try to hide it.'' Mr. Hall then left.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade later questioned the Speaker's decision.

"He showed gross contempt for the Chair,'' Mr. Wilkinson said. "The gross contempt was in coming here and arguing with me.'' The suspension was supported 15 votes to 10, with the NLP Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell voting with the UBP.

Mr. Wade then announced that PLP members were leaving. He said Mr. Hall's "initial behaviour'' did not deserve suspension. The Speaker said he did not suspend Mr. Hall for his initial behaviour, but because he continued.

House rules prescribe a suspension of three sittings for those who disobey the Speaker's authority. The House has just three sittings scheduled before its annual July-to-November recess.

Later yesterday, Mr. Hall said he was speaking no louder than is normal in the House. "I was a little bit stunned when the Speaker appeared even more testy than normal. He may have been in a hurry to leave.'' But he said he had heard from UBP friends that an attack on him had been planned in the UBP caucus meeting this week. "I know that one of the main strategies was to make it as difficult as possible for me to speak.'' The Speaker "does apply a very obvious double standard when it comes to monitoring the deportment of the House''. "He allows the Government members to get away with murder practically and he allows them to insult just about anybody in the Opposition.'' But Mr. Hall added: "With the benefit of hindsight maybe I shouldn't have lost my temper.'' Mr. Edness said Mr. Hall deserved to be suspended. "There wasn't any plan to get him at all. There was a discussion about the remarks he had made and we all heard the same thing: That the people he had named didn't have any power.'' But Mr. Hall was trying to deny saying what he had said, Mr. Edness continued.

"When this was pointed out to him he acted like a child, and got thrown out of the House as a result of it. That's what the public should know.''