Reports of the demise of the United Bermuda Party have been greatly exaggerated that seems to be one of the lessons coming out of the Southampton West Central by-election.

Despite some serious pre-poll fears that independent Raymond Davis would take enough votes off the UBP to let in the Progressive Labour Party (PLP), Charlie Swan held the seat with a very comfortable 100-plus majority.

The PLP threw everything into the campaign, with some saying it was the best organised effort for years, but took only 40 percent of the vote compared to 42 percent at last year's general election.

UBP figures were conceding that a loss would have put the party's future in jeopardy however the results seems to have been the death knell for any chance of an independent candidate breaking the two-party stranglehold.

Raymond Davis, also known as Khalid Wasi, was fighting on home turf against a divided Opposition and a Government led by a very unpopular Premier, but took just 24 votes. Mr. Davis could not be reached for comment yesterday.

One UBP campaigner in Southampton West Central said voters were keen to not to have the party get any weaker.

"It wouldn't be good for the Country, that's what people were saying. People realised the importance of having a strong, viable opposition. There was also a good response to Charlie, he is a very likable down-to-earth fellow."

The second key factor on the doorstep was the massive unpopularity of the Premier, said the source. And another UBP source said: "We had a candidate who could blow through all the b/s at the national level and register with the people by saying he was there to serve 24/7/365."

Seemingly the intervention of former leader Wayne Furbert who criticised the selection of Mr. Swan did not harm his campaign. The source said: "Wayne went out on a limb for this by-election and as a result got it cut off."

The PLP candidate Marc Bean said he got some "European/Bermudian" votes but most voted en bloc for the UBP, despite his deliberate pitch to whites who had been traditionally ignored by PLP canvassers.

"I thought it was an opportunity to redefine politics.

"At least 146 of my supposed supporters didn't show up to the polls, despite the best efforts from an excellent team. I am glad that it is over."

Asked if there had been a backlash to the Premier's notorious remarks about whites in Bermuda not being likely to vote for Obama, Mr. Bean said: "I heard it strongly on the doorstep from UBP voters – but yesterday's election revealed exactly what the Premier was saying.

"I am a person who can bring that healing to the populace but this revealed that the people weren't ready. I don't think Dr. Brown had anything to do with me losing this by-election. There was a perception that he insulted a lot of voters, that's the way they took it.

"But what he was speaking about was voting patterns, with the hope that the attitudes would change so we could finally start progressing in politics in Bermuda. So instead of it being taken as a possible solution, it was taken as an insult.

"That had nothing to do with me losing because I presented myself in the same vein as Barack Obama but I lost by 100-something votes.

"People chose to vote for someone else, people didn't turn out en masse and Charlie's supporters turned out en masse. That's just how it is, I don't have any sour grapes. I know I worked hard and it's a UBP seat."

Asked if he was keen to go back to the Senate, Mr. Bean said: "We will have to wait and see. I know I worked hard enough and haven't done anything wrong."