United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert announced his resignation today — effective from Saturday.

In a tearful speech Mr. Furbert said he was disappointed by the situation but he urged his supporters not to be angry but instead to unite behind the party.

And he said he would fight again in his Hamilton West seat at the next election.

He said: "I want to emphasise that I take this step for one reason only — I want the best for the people of Bermuda and with all this uncertainty it cannot happen."

Recently the majority of the party's 13 MPs had signed a no confidence motion.

Party chairman Shawn Crockwell said nomination day will be on Monday.

However many party sources are predicting deputy leader Michael Dunkley will run unopposed.

Senior UBP MP Maxwell Burgess confirmed he will not be standing and he said he believed Finance Spokeswoman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin would be unlikely to want to run.

* See The Royal Gazette tomorrow for full story, reaction and background reports.