Sir John Swan will this week meet with the UBP's Paget East party faithful to discuss his resignation bombshell, it was revealed yesterday.

The move came after Sir John stunned MPs on Friday by announcing his intention to quit his seat over the Easter break.

Yesterday Paget East chief Campbell McBeath admitted the news came as a shock.

He said: "It was sort of news -- I wasn't aware of when he was planning to do anything.'' Mr. McBeath added that a meeting with the UBP constituency committee would be called this week.

The former Premier, however, caused confusion in the House of Assembly by announcing he would not be back for the next session -- then saying he would have to consult with his local party to see if it was an appropriate time to call it a day, leaving the door open for a return.

Mr. McBeath said: "He didn't formally resign but he is certainly giving indications about what he wants to do.'' He declined to comment on how the local UBP organisation would react to Sir John's desire to go.

He said: "At the end of the day, that's his decision -- I have worked with him a long time, 16 years and five elections, and I'd certainly be personally sad to see it happen. But I can understand if he wants to step down.

"How the rest of the branch feels and how the constituents feel, I don't know because we haven't met yet, so it's hard to say.'' But party insiders believe that the Paget East UBP organisation would allow Sir John to go without a fight.

Mr. McBeath said it was also too early to speculate on who might run alongside Finance Minister Grant Gibbons in Sir John's place for the rock-solid UBP area.

He explained: "It's traditionally been a seat where the UBP have done well -- people have been interested in the past. But it's one of these things where, until we get a resignation, you can't really talk about any other names.'' In the recent past, Maritime Museum director Ed Harris and entrepreneur and women's rights activist Kim Young have put themselves forward.

Mr. McBeath said: "It would have to be an approved candidate and there are probably 20 or more people who are approved. I wouldn't like to guess who might run or who might not. I haven't had any indications personally.'' Sir John staked his 13-plus years' Premiership on the Independence Referendum in August 1995.

He returned to the backbenches following an overwhelming rejection of Bermuda going it alone.

Last year, a bid by Grape Bay Ltd, which includes Sir John and fellow UBP backbencher Maxwell Burgess among its principals, to open a McDonald's burger franchise on the Island split the UBP.

Sir John -- who has stayed out of the limelight since his surprise statement -- could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sir John's running mate Dr. Gibbons revealed he found out Sir John wanted to retire on the morning the ex-Premier made a shock announcement to the House of Assembly.

Dr. Gibbons said: "I would say, yes, it certainly was a surprise -- but my sense is he had been thinking about it for some time.

"He has given long and distinguished service to the community and probably came to the point where he feels he has to get on with the responsibilities of his business and private life.'' Dr. Gibbons said: "It's been my pleasure to serve with him -- but it remains to be seen what the timing will be, but I think at some point he intends to stand down.''