force the "People's Five'' into dropping a controversial anti-McDonald's Bill, an MP claimed last night.

Smith's South MP Trevor Moniz also claimed the proposals were put forward to find a way of ousting the rebel "Five'' from the UBP.

But he said despite the threat, the rebels would press ahead with the Prohibited Restaurant Bill and said the amendments could send the UBP on a course to disaster.

However the Premier David Saul said the amendments had been discussed for years and their timing -- a few weeks before the opening of Parliament -- was coincidental.

The UBP caucus will meet next week to discuss the amendments to its constitutional rules governing expulsion from the Party.

According to the proposed redrafting, the UBP central executive could expel a member guilty of "undesirable conduct'', or if a member votes against the Party Whip twice or more in one year.

In the last Parliament the `Five' -- Mr. Moniz, C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, Dr.

David Dyer, Ann Cartwright DeCouto and and Dr. Clarence Terceira -- defied the Whip several times.

Mr. Moniz said instructions to redraft the UBP's constitution came from the Party Leader, Dr. Saul, and were done for a specific purpose -- in this case to oust the "Five'' from the UBP and stop the Bill.

"A poll in June showed we were strong, so we could not be knocked out by primaries, now they are trying to knock us out through the executive,'' he charged.

"It would not stop us reintroducing the Prohibited Restaurant Bill. It is a sign of desperation and it is extremely sad. It is designed specifically to make us back off the Prohibited Restaurant Bill.'' In order to pass the Bill in the House of Assembly the "Five'' would have to defy the Party line -- the whip -- and vote against Government.

Mr. Moniz added: "They are absolutely bonded to the idea of Sir John Swan having a McDonald's restaurant.

"We seem to be headed for an impasse or disaster all over something that on the face of it is stupid, but must go right to someone's hold on power.'' Yesterday Dr. Saul said over the last 12 months, changes and amendments to the constitution had been discussed through committees and the central executive.

A disciplinary procedure, he added, had been discussed for years by the Party.

"In the package of amendments there is one in there dealing with discipline.'' He added: "It has long been overdue and it has been discussed for a long time. I think the timing is coincidental.

"Let's move along quietly and get on with the more important things that people want us to deal with like the drugs issue, crime, education and the economy,'' he said.