Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Erwin Adderley has no plans to retire from politics before the next election.

Mr. Adderley strongly denied this newspaper's understanding that he will be stepping down before the next election.

"I have not told my party leader, my branch or my wife that I intend to step down," he said. "If I intended to step down, all of those people would have been told. And my wife would be the first to be told. I have not said that to anybody."

Asked directly if he was planning to retire, he said "I stand ready and willing and able to serve my party and constituency if they want me to."

This newspaper reported Friday that Mr. Adderley, former Premier and Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon and the party's spokesman for women's issues Kim Young were all expected to retire from politics before the next election.

Mr. Adderley, who also serves as the United Bermuda Party's Deputy Leader, appeared somewhat distraught at the thought that someone would think he would abandon his Pembroke West constituents.

Yesterday's report was based on informed speculation which, in the case of Mr. Adderley, turned out to be inaccurate.