"bullying tactics'' after a camera crew turned up at a UBP press conference -- and refused to leave.

The press conference -- called on the long-running row over TV debates between Premier Pamela Gordon and PLP leader Jennifer Smith -- was delayed for 20 minutes after the crew from RF Communications refused to leave.

Office workers at the UBP's Chancery Lane HQ tried to get the crew -- equipped with Government-issued press passes -- to leave before the press conference started.

And -- after UBP campaign committee chairman Mike Winfield appeared on the scene -- the camera crew, which had not been invited to the conference, agreed to quit the premises.

Yesterday, Mr. Winfield claimed: "They were either there to film the Premier for use in the future or get a run-down on what she was saying before the PLP held their press conference.

"It's certainly the reaction of a struggling party -- they're struggling to find a message and struggling to deliver a message.'' And Ms Gordon -- who waited outside the UBP HQ's conference room until the RF crew had left -- said: "I will not yield to intimidation. This sort of behaviour is appalling. I'm asking for a sense of calm and sober decision making. What happened...is ridiculous.'' But yesterday Ms Smith insisted: "I have no idea why RF Communications was there.'' She added: "It was nothing to do with us.'' And she said the PLP was not the only client RF Communications -- which has expanded its payroll with overseas staff recently -- had.

Ms Smith added: "They are a communications company, they had valid press credentials and they should be welcome at a press conference held by the leader of this Country.'' And Ms Smith sidestepped a question on how the PLP would react if a firm with a contract with the UBP had turned up at a PLP press conference.

She said: "I wouldn't know who they are.'' Yesterday RF Communications boss Reece Furbert was not in the mood to communicate.

PR firm He refused to say whether the PLP would have had access to any footage shot at the UBP's Hamilton HQ or say who he had been working for.

Mr. Furbert said: "We work for a number of clients and I'm not in the habit of revealing who my clients are to the public.'' But he then reeled off a list of TV companies in the US his firm had worked for in the past.

In the UK, reporters are required by National Union of Journalists rules and guidelines issued by media watchdogs to identify the organisation they represent.

It is understood similar rules apply in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Ms Gordon said: "When questioned, they showed their official press passes.

However they did not identify any media that they were officially representing by their presence at our press conference.''