The United Bermuda Party has pledged its candidates will abide by a code of conduct after accusing Premier Ewart Brown of gutter politics following his fiery speech to Progressive Labour Party delegates on Saturday night.

In that address Dr. Brown had branded the UBP as "vicious and vile" and morally unfit to lead while branding Opposition Senator E.T. (Bob) Richards as "snide and nasty" during an insult-strewn tirade.

At a press conference yesterday UBP leader Michael Dunkley said his team wanted to set a new standard and keep the election focused on issues and ideas to improve people's lives.

Mr. Dunkley, who was surrounded by most of his party's 36 candiates, said: "We pledge to work to uphold our Code of Conduct because the future of this Island depends on how we conduct ourselves over the next seven weeks.

"On the weekend, we heard Dr. Brown launch his campaign with a diatribe of baseless accusations, personal attacks and degrading characterisations of my colleagues and people outside the party who have crossed him.

"It was a demonstration of gutter politics and a strong indication of the way he intends to conduct his campaign.

"I take this opportunity to urge his colleagues to speak to him. Bermuda deserves more than vitriol and anger."

Each UBP candidate has signed the document in which they pledge to:

1) Campaign in a manner that helps voters to make an informed choice

2) Respect the right and freedom of all other parties to campaign and disseminate their political ideas and principles

3) Encourage participation by a maximum number of voters

4) Avoid using language, in word or in text, that is defamatory or inflammatory, or that threatens or incites violence against any other person or group of persons

5) Condemn any form of intimidation

6) Respect freedom of the press.

The UBP also want a code of conduct for parliamentary behaviour.

"You can't go anywhere unless you set standards," said Mr. Dunkley, who hopes the PLP will adopt the code although he admitted he had not shared it with them.

Asked about the prospects of them signing up he said: "I can't really say that they will. Traditionally parties haven't adopted anything the other party said they would do.

"But one of the things you will find about me is I will try to bring people together – if the opposing party has something I can support I will support it.

"If I am Premier and they bring something up, I will take it and run with it."

The PLP hit back last night, accusing the Opposition of name-calling and pledging to govern themselves accordingly in the lead-up to the election.

"Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin has used words like 'deranged', 'lunatic' and 'idiot' to describe her political opponents," said national campaign chairwoman Dawn Simmons.

"Just this week, Mr. Dunkley referred to the Premier as 'selfish' for scheduling an election when the maximum number of Bermudians can participate.

"Given that Mr. Dunkley and Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin have recently promised to reverse course and stop engaging in the politics of personal destruction that they have thus far so heartily embraced, we look forward to receiving their apology for engaging in childish name-calling over the last several months.

"That said, the Progressive Labour Party is running on our record of delivering for Bermuda and our positive vision for our island's future.

"We pledge to govern ourselves accordingly in the upcoming campaign as we engage in an important debate with an Opposition who is intent on rolling back the clock and once again promoting policies that benefit Bermuda's socio-economic elite at the expense of the vast majority of Bermudians."