Opposition MPs Mark Pettingill and Darius Tucker have been suspended from the Shadow Cabinet for failing to vote for a motion of no confidence in Premier Ewart Brown's Government.

The pair — who defied a three-line whip by not backing the doomed motion — will learn if they have been stripped of their portfolios permanently after a disciplinary hearing later this week.

Mr. Pettingill, who was Shadow Attorney General and Justice Minister, abstained from Saturday morning's vote in the House of Assembly after saying he believed the motion was instigated by rebel PLP MPs attempting to use the UBP to force out Dr. Brown.

Mr. Tucker, who held the brief for sport, youth and recreation, failed to appear in the Lower Chamber for the roll-call ballot after pledging that he would vote against it. He has since said he was in the coffee room at Sessions House.

The motion of no confidence was brought by Opposition leader Kim Swan and failed by 22 votes to 11, with every PLP MP voting against it.

Mr. Swan said yesterday he had taken on Mr. Tucker's portfolio, while Deputy Opposition leader Trevor Moniz now has shadow responsibility for justice and the Attorney General.

The UBP leader said: "In making the changes, I was exercising my prerogative as party leader to appoint a shadow cabinet. These changes will remain until further notice."

Mr. Pettingill and Mr. Tucker will go before the UBP's caucus procedures committee this week. The committee will then make a recommendation to the full caucus — which is made up of MPs, senators and party executives — about what action to take.

Mr. Swan explained: "The committee can recommend disciplinary action, which can include removal of the whip. The committee's recommendations are submitted to the parliamentary whip for decision by the majority of the UBP caucus. I am hoping to settle this matter as soon as possible."

The removal of the whip would mean Mr. Pettingill and Mr. Tucker could still sit in the House as UBP MPs but would not be bound by party discipline, be allowed to attend caucus meetings or hold a position in the party.

Mr. Moniz had the whip withdrawn in 1999 after breaking the party line and helping push through a Government bill banning franchise food in Bermuda. He was later stripped of his UBP credentials but was eventually accepted back into the fold.

Mr. Pettingill said yesterday: "I'm prepared to accept the caucus disciplinary procedure. I'm prepared to go through the process."

He added that he stood by his decision to abstain as the "principled thing to do".

Mr. Tucker did not return calls.