Former Opposition leader Wayne Furbert told MPs on Friday how speaking his mind got him into trouble with United Bermuda Party chiefs.

During the Throne Speech debate in the House of Assembly, Mr. Furbert said: "The UBP mentions that people need to feel free to express themselves.

"When I expressed myself a few weeks ago, I was almost thrown out of the whip."

The outspoken MP was referring to the fact he escaped suspension from the UBP last month for derogatory comments he made about its Southampton West Central by-election candidate Charlie Swan.

The controversy centred around statements Mr. Furbert made to The Royal Gazette following Senator Swan's nomination by the party.

Mr. Furbert said on Friday: "President-elect Barack Obama talked about change and hope. If we are going to make progress in this country we must be willing to change."

He went on to say that if any whites joined the Progressive Labour Party they were looked down upon and ostracised from their family.

Throughout his speech, the UBP backbencher consistently praised the Government and was critical of his own party saying: "Lately members of my own party don't accept me."

Mr. Furbert reminded both parties, particularly his own: "We don't have to oppose everything and butt heads because at the end of the day, no one wins."

He also mentioned that both parties should be working together for the good of the country.

"If we realise we're going to have a problem, sometimes we have to come together."

Of one of the initiatives put forth by Government, the graduated licences scheme, Mr. Furbert said: "I welcome that and look forward to when it comes."

He also included a past slogan of the UBP: "A better Bermuda for our young people and a better young people for our Bermuda."