yesterday's election. The PLP lost but it greatly increased its share of the popular vote. Against heavy odds, the PLP came within a hair of winning and it seems clear that the PLP could have won a straight fight with the UBP. The PLP fought against a highly financed and well organised UBP election machine. It also fought from the defensive as Premier Sir John Swan grabbed the Bases headlines. We think the PLP might well have won if it had pushed its moderate candidates with high credibility, like Jennifer Smith and Terry Lister, to the front.

The message from the people to the UBP was clear. They have concerns which they do not think the United Bermuda Party is addressing and they want action.

This was very true in St. George's where Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams gained a seat and Mr. Arthur Pitcher made heavy inroads. East End voters have long felt ignored and confusion over a dedicated cruise boat made a difference.

While the PLP lost the volatile Hamilton West seats, it has to be very pleased by its clear win of both seats in Hamilton East. The PLP hierarchy must also have been glad to see the co-chairman of the campaign, Alex Scott, join his old Senate team, David Allen and Jennifer Smith, in the House. The UBP has to be pleased with Maxwell Burgess and Wayne Furbert in Hamilton West to whom it owes its election. The results proved that hard work on the doorsteps does pay off.

The UBP must also be happy that voters elected some of its young stars in tough seats, notably Jerome Dill in Pembroke West Central and Pamela Gordon and David Dodwell in Southampton West, all of whom will doubtless emerge as UBP leaders. Other than that, there was little joy for the UBP.

Any pleasure that the UBP might have taken in its slender win was dampened by the narrow loss of Sir John Sharpe in Warwick West and by the loss of Gerald Simons in Warwick East, both Cabinet Ministers and both highly prized by their party. Sir John ranks high among the most dedicated and respected politicians in Bermuda's history. It is a personal tragedy that he has been defeated at the end of a distinguished career. Probably it is simply a case of staying on too long. Mr. Simons probably sacrificed his political career to his dream of improving Bermuda's education.

This is now clearly a two-party country. The NLP slipped back badly and lost the one seat held by its highly respected but venerable leader, Mr. Gilbert Darrell. The NLP is unlikely to survive as any kind of force in Bermudian politics. Independents did no better than the NLP despite the suggestions that independent MPs can make a difference. But it is clear that Bermuda is not, as is often suggested, tired of party politics.

Former MP Mr. Walter Brangman seemed to have the definitive word last night when he said, "This election is a wake-up call. There are no more safe seats.''