Opposition MP John Barritt is refusing to say why he resigned from his position as Shadow Leader of the House.

But he denied it could be linked to his recent supportive statements about the need for a third party after he admitted the public were unhappy with both his United Bermuda Party and the ruling Progressive Labour Party.

Last night Mr. Barritt denied he had been calling for a third party.

But he said there was a political vacuum which needed to be filled.

"It could be filled by the UBP, it could be filled by the Government. But if not it will be filled by a third party,'' said Mr. Barritt.

Asked if he was referring to the National Liberal Party Mr. Barritt said: "They don't hold any seats.'' He said any new party would likely be formed by sitting MPs defecting from their own parties.

"It would be possible to come to a position of holding the balance of power.'' "But I am not calling for a third party.'' Last week Mr. Barritt said there was growing disillusionment in the country with both main parties which had fuelled talk of a third force.

"I said what I said to get my colleagues thinking and those who support the UBP thinking about what needs to be done.'' "I don't think the approaches used in the past are going to bring success.'' He said he had stepped down from being the Leader to the House last month but refused to say what had prompted the move.

Asked if the resignation was to do with his views on a third party he said: "That's a bit stretch.'' He said the Leader of the House was responsible for organising house debates, presenting the party's position to the House.

"It was a job I had enjoyed some of the time.'' Earlier Mr. Barritt, who is still the party's Legislative Affairs spokesman, said the public were unsure of the party's position.

"We have been fairly good critics of the Government. What people are looking for is for us to say what our plans are and how we are going to carry them out.'' Out in the cold MP Trevor Moniz was staying tightlipped over speculation about a third party when asked about it last night.

But he says it was clear Mr. Barritt was calling for a new political force.

And Mr. Moniz said the United Bermuda Party, which had suspended him nearly 20 months ago, would have sacked him if he had made the same remarks as Mr.

Barritt had made.

Mr. Moniz said: "He's supporting another party, he's saying the majority of people out there are sufficiently dissatisfied with the PLP and the UBP to support some third political party.

"He may well be right, given that he's viewed as a leader of the UBP, he's just resigned from being the house leader.

"We already have a third party, I guess we are talking about a fourth party.'' He said that as well as Mr. Barritt's third party pronouncements the UBP had also been hit by the resignation of his running mate C.V. "Jim'' Woolridge and his subsequent revelations in his autobiography.

Mr. Moniz said: "This has all happened within a week.'' He said: "Jim Wooldridge said in his book that no black man will join the UBP because of the way they are treated.'' Mr. Moniz said the fight for Smith's South seat would be privotal for the UBP.

"They need to select somebody who can get the support of the whole community - somebody with integrity and character, not some reconstructed politico.'' The UBP have yet to pick a candidate for the seat. A date for the by-election has yet to be announced.