A Paget political punch-up yesterday broke out in the open after Opposition leader Pamela Gordon's sister was adopted as the UBP by-election candidate.

The row broke out after a meeting of Paget West members picked Sen. Patricia Gordon Pamplin to run there at a marathon meeting Wednesday night.

But last night party rebels urged ex-deputy chairman David Sullivan to run as an Independent against the UBP's choice.

Mr. Sullivan is understood to have considered making a pitch for the seat -- but is believed to have pulled out to avoid starting a bruising row in the branch.

But just after new Upper House member Sen. Gordon Pamplin beat Ann Cartwright DeCouto by 35 votes to 21 he threatened to go it alone in protest because the selection rode roughshod over the UBP's rulebook.

And yesterday, party insiders backed a run by Mr. Sullivan -- even though it could cost the party votes in the seat made vacant by the tragic death of sitting MP Madeline Joell.

One insider said: "I hope there is going to be a lot of opposition to this -- it's outrageous. I'm sure there will be a lot of protest.'' The insider admitted he would not have backed Mr. Sullivan if he had stood for the UBP ticket.

But he added: "I certainly think he should now run as an Independent.'' And he claimed: "David Sullivan can argue on constitutional grounds and he may be right in that -- but the party has ceased to function under a constitution.'' The insider added: "I understand the people of Paget West want a new face -- but to grasp at a new face just for the sake of it is ridiculous.

"This whole thing shows the UBP is no longer functioning as a party -- there is no one planning a forward strategy.'' The furious insider added Sen. Gordon Pamplin had run against the party in 1993 in Warwick -- a move said to have cost then-Minister Gerald Simons his seat.

He said: "That is the kind of self-serving person she is -- the whole thing is a mockery.'' And he said it was likely a letter-writing campaign by disaffected party members to "discredit'' the new candidate would start.

Yesterday, sources close to the Opposition Leader said she did not want to become involved in the row because of her relationship with Sen. Gordon Pamplin.

And they added Ms Gordon did not even know her sister had thrown her hat into the ring in Paget West until after the event.

But Ms Gordon did welcome her prodigal sister back into the party fold following her run in Warwick.

She said: "She stood for the party in Pembroke East Central last November -- she ran as an Independent but she's now seen the error of her ways and decided the UBP is the way forward. And it was six years ago now.'' The row comes as the PLP -- as expected -- announced their candidate for the March 31 by-election would be George Scott, who represented the party in November's General Election.

Mr. Scott -- understood to have begun canvassing before the UBP candidate was announced -- was bested by the UBP's team of Tim Smith and Ms Joell, winning 429 votes (24.9 percent).

Sen. Patricia Gordon Pamplin