White, the Opposition Leader claimed yesterday.

And Mr. White should stop branding the Progressive Labour Party as racist.

Mr. Frederick Wade made the claims in the House of Assembly yesterday as he attacked the paper's editorial on the PLP's recent trip to London.

During the trip, the PLP asked politicians to comment on Independence and intervene in the appointment of British officers to the two top Police posts in Bermuda.

Yesterday's editorial accused the PLP of "stirring the pot'' on Independence in London.

It stated Britain must be confused about why the historically pro-Independence PLP appeared to be dragging its heels on the matter.

The Country must also be puzzled about the "racial'' implications of the PLP's Police complaints when it failed to protest the appointment of a Barbadian Attorney General to Bermuda, the paper alleged.

Yesterday, however, Mr. Wade hit back during the motion to adjourn debate, saying his party never considered appointments should be based on a person's skin colour.

It was always a question of competence and ability with the PLP.

For instance, the party opposed the appointment of former Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood -- a black man -- to the presidency of the Court of Appeals.

Mr. Wade said he never intervened in the new Attorney General's appointment because no other Bermudian was considered qualified for the job.

But this was not the case with the jobs of Commissioner and deputy Commissioner. Bermudians were deemed qualified for these posts.

Mr. Wade suggested Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan was hiding behind the editorial to voice criticism of the Attorney General's appointment.

He went on to slam Mr. White for having the "temerity'' to accuse the party of only seeing people from the lunatic fringe in Britain.

This was an insult to such politicians as Paul Boateng and Diane Abbott, and Sir Anthony Durrant, a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association member.

Mr. Wade said he would be sending a copy of the editorial to Sir Anthony.

But Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan accused the Opposition of hypocrisy.

He accused the PLP of calling black Government MPs "uncle Toms and all sort of derogatory names''.

Sir John also defended the freedom of the Press, and said politicians should not be over-sensitive to what was written.

"I can't tell the Editor of The Royal Gazette what should or should not be published,'' he said.

Sir John also said Mr. Wade's visit to London had been most unfortunate, and only created confusion.

Mr. Frederick Wade: Tired of arrogance''