There was confusion in the House of Assembly last night when Speaker Stanley Lowe mistakenly voted with the Opposition on a tied vote.

Mr. Lowe went with the United Bermuda Party after MPs were tied 14-14 after a name call vote on a bill to set aside money given by the US for Longbird Bridge into a new fund.

UBP MPs began celebrating their unexpected success, but the veteran Progressive Labour Party MP quickly realised his mistake and changed it to a yes vote for the Government.

As it was an tax matter "consequential to the Budget, the Speaker is required to vote no", said Mr. Lowe.

He then added: "I should have said yes. My explanation implied I was voting with the ayes because it was a tax matter consequential to the Budget".

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons protested it was not a tax matter, but a bill to set up a reserve fund, but Mr. Lowe retorted: "I've already cast my vote. I've voted with the Government. The ayes have it."

Government was caught out when the UBP, spotting a number of Government MPs were missing, called for a roll call, giving members two minutes to return to the chamber.

As Deputy Premier Ewart Brown, Tourism Minister Renee Webb, Education Minister Terry Lister, and backbenchers Dennis Lister, Walter Lister and Derrick Burgess were missing, the vote was tied 14-14.

The bills sets up a new fund for the $11 million given by the US in lieu of its responsibilities for maintaining Longbird Bridge. Some $5 million of the cash has already been set aside for social spending.