Outspoken MP Wayne Furbert will not be suspended from the United Bermuda Party for comments he made about its Southampton West Central by-election candidate Charlie Swan.

The decision was made during a two-hour caucus meeting last night, called to allow the former UBP Leader to answer allegations that he brought the Party into disrepute.

The controversy centred around statements Mr. Furbert made to this paper following Senator Swan's nomination by the UBP.

"This is a step backwards as I don't believe Charlie Swan represents the type of change we want to move in," Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette. "He's a nice guy, but we have missed a golden opportunity to go out and find a better candidate than Charlie Swan and also a possible candidate who could be a future leader of the UBP."

UBP caucus chair Mark Pettingill said last night's meeting gave all members a chance to speak on the issue, with a vote deciding Mr. Furbert's fate in the Party.

He said: "Mr. Furbert was heard and others were able to speak. There was not the majority vote to remove him from the Party whip, so he remains part of the caucus."

Mr. Furbert was unavailable for comment last night, however he has been vocal about the shortcomings of the UBP in recent months.

In April he claimed that the Party could never win as it was distrusted — even by blacks who didn't like the PLP.

His most recent public comments about Sen. Swan were branded as "disgraceful" by current UBP Leader Kim Swan, who said they demonstrated a "total lack of leadership and his utter lack of judgment".

Jon Brunson resigned as MP for Southampton West Central last month, making another challenge for Constituency 31 necessary.

The former UBP MP won the seat in the last General Election, with a 142-vote majority.

PLP Sen. Marc Bean and independent Raymond Davis are both standing in the December 4 by-election.