MPs supporting the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge to lead the United Bermuda Party yesterday accused those behind the Hon. David Saul's bid for leadership of trying to "hijack'' the party.

And they accused Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan of trying to engineer a UBP defeat at the next election just to pave his own way back into power.

"In real politick there's no more admirable way to prove a point than to lose the country,'' said Government backbencher Dr. David Dyer. "If you see yourself as some sort of messiah then you pick someone and make them leader knowing beforehand that there's no way they can win.

"The pro-Independence group that tried to hijack the country by rushing us off to Independence is now trying to hijack the leadership.'' "The only way they can get back into power is by backing someone who won't be a winner,'' agreed Mr. Trevor Moniz MP.

Dr. Dyer said a Bank of Butterfield poll conducted a week before the referendum showed more than 80 percent of those surveyed preferred Mr.

Woolridge to MPs Maxwell Burgess, Jerome Dill or Pamela Gordon.

And he said his own group of anti-Independence MPs was conducting a poll over the weekend with just the two contenders' names.

He expected a result by tonight but said yesterday that preliminary results showed Mr. Woolridge an overwhelming favourite over Dr. Saul.

Dr. Dyer said the referendum results showed the majority of Bermudians wanted a leader who was clearly against Independence.

"If we want to allay the level of anxiety in this community it has to be a person who stated clearly his position on Independence,'' he said.

Picking Dr. Saul, who never revealed his stance, "flies in the face of a very clear public sentiment''.

It is believed those who've signed on in support of Dr. Saul include the Hon.

Quinton Edness, the Hon. Jerome Dill, Sir John, the Hon. Maxwell Burgess, the Hon. Wayne Furbert and Mrs. Grace Bell MP.

The Hon. Irving Pearman and the Hon. Pamela Gordon, both off the Island, are believed to have phoned in their support for Dr. Saul.

The pro-Saul movement is being co-ordinated by Mr. David Dodwell MP, The Royal Gazette understands.

MPs backing Mr. Woolridge are Dr. Dyer, Mr. Moniz, the Hon. John Barritt, Mrs.

Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Mr. Rick Spurling and the Hon. Clarence Terceira.

Dr. Dyer and Mr. Moniz also denied their group was behind an ad which appeared in the The Royal Gazette last Monday announcing the "death'' of the UBP. "A lot of people believe that the group that placed that ad was anti-Independence. This is patently untrue,'' said Dr. Dyer. "That ad could only have come from the pro-Independence side.'' The ad was anonymous, he pointed out, while all ads his group placed clearly identified its members.

Dr. Saul, who will contest the UBP leadership against Mr. Woolridge came in for a heavy dose of criticism from retired UBP parliamentarian Mr. Harry Viera.

"The pro-Independence camp is trying to promote an unpopular person (Dr.

Saul) who is about as exciting as a mash potato sandwich,'' he said.

"The UBP needs a leader who can attract a broad popular base. Dr. Saul can't do that. Mr. Woolridge can. Could you picture Dr. Saul in any of our sporting clubs? I do not think Dr. Saul can relate to the people.'' Dr. Saul, meantime, rejected the assertion that he was being used by the pro-Independence elements in the UBP.

"It is a complete falsehood to put me in the pro-Independence group,'' he told The Royal Gazette last night.

"I have epitomised the Government's neutral stance on this issue. I have been approached by a majority of the Parliamentary group who have stated that they saw me as one who is able to carry out a healing process.'' Dr. Saul admitted yesterday that it was fair to label him "arrogant'' in his role as Minister of Finance.

"(Arrogance) is one attribute that many people think is good for a successful Finance Minister,'' he said. "But I do not intend, if elected Premier, to hold the post of Finance Minister.

"There will be a metamorphosis that David Saul, the Premier, will undergo. I will be an entirely different person; a healer, a team leader, and someone who believes in consensus.

"That metamorphosis will take time. But I think people will be pleasantly surprised at what they will get and what they see.

"I am a quiet person. Very few people out there really know me and when they really find out who the real David Saul is they will agree with those of my Parliamentary colleagues who see me as a healer who can mend fences and bring people together.'' Tomorrow is Nomination Day, and on Thursday a special meeting will be held at which both candidates may deliver short speeches and answer questions. Only the 21 UBP MPs can vote in the election, and each candidate must be nominated by five MPs.