An angry row between rival MPs Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and Zane DeSilva flared up after last night's House of Assembly session — with fellow politicians having to persuade the pair to walk away from the fight.

The two began shouting at one another in the Lower Chamber moments after the Speaker closed proceedings, with both clearly furious at comments the other made during the Motion to Adjourn debate.

The loud argument was over in seconds after members from both parties urged the pair to calm down and keep their tempers.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox took Mr. DeSilva to one side, after which he crossed the floor and started to apologise to Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin. She told him: "You are saying nothing to me."

The Shadow Works and Engineering Minister then described Government backbencher Mr. DeSilva to The Royal Gazette as a "nasty piece of work". "I'm not going to tolerate that nastiness coming from that putrid piece of cr*p," she said.

Asked about the blow-up, Mr. DeSilva told this newspaper: "I

thought really that that is not the type of conversation that should take place in this honourable house. I figured that I should take the lead and apologise."

The pair clashed swords earlier in the night during a three-hour debate on race sparked by comments Mr. DeSilva made about Thursday night's by-election and racial voting patterns.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told the House that in the run-up to the by-election, ZBM television news asked her to confirm a story that Mr. DeSilva was "offering jobs in exchange for votes" for PLP candidate Marc Bean.

The Government backbencher took to his feet and said: "The honourable member has been talking about audacity but to talk about a rumour — she should be sent to her room."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin replied: "Is it true? That's the question: is it true?" Speaker Stanley Lowe said Mr. DeSilva had refuted the allegation and Deputy Speaker Dame Jennifer Smith started reading from a book of House of Assembly rules.

Mr. DeSilva described Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin's comment as "low indeed" and the Speaker told the Opposition MP to sit down. Mr. DeSilva then commented that he earned his money honestly and so did his wife.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told this newspaper she took that as a "nasty" reference to her estranged husband Dennis Pamplin, who is facing criminal charges of attempted drug smuggling in the US.

Mr. DeSilva told The Royal Gazette that Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin insinuated that he behaved fraudulently during the by-election. "I just said 'look, I earn my living honestly'. I referred to myself. If she took that that way, then I'm sorry."

He said their wrangle began because she crossed the chamber pointing her finger at him the moment the Speaker left. "I didn't approach her," he said. "Quite frankly, I should have just walked away but it didn't happen."

Ms Cox said tempers had flared and there were "no angels" in the argument, adding that Mr. DeSilva had at least tried to make amends afterwards.

Both MPs still looked rattled as they left Parliament with colleagues shortly after 7 p.m. One PLP backbencher quipped to Government Whip Lovitta Foggo: "You need to start using your whip."