United Bermuda Party MP Mark Pettingill has been suspended from the party whip for three months after abstaining from a no-confidence vote against Premier Ewart Brown.

Mr. Pettingill's abstention from the vote in the early hours of June 20 broke a three-line whip that was in place, thus contravening the party's constitution.

However, he told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I was never informed or given notice that there was a three-line whip in respect of this motion. They (the party) accepts that I was not informed or aware."

He said he may have acted differently, had he known. The United Bermuda Party Parliamentary caucus decided on the suspension on Thursday, the day after the caucus Procedures Committee met with Mr. Pettingill. A three-line whip requires MPs to attend and vote with the party position on any given issue. Failure to comply can open an MP to a range of sanctions, including suspensions and, in extreme cases, expulsions.

The removal of the whip means Mr. Pettingill can still sit in the House of Assembly as a UBP MP but is not bound by party discipline, allowed to attend caucus meetings or hold a position in the party. It was announced earlier this week that he had been stripped of his role as Shadow Attorney General and Justice Minister, which was handed to Trevor Moniz.

UBP Whip and House Leader Cole Simons said yesterday that he'd written to Mr. Pettingill informing him of the suspension and telling him: "We take this step with regret but do so in the spirit of a strong future together. Your counsel and your voice are valued."

Mr. Pettingill said after abstaining that he could not vote for the motion which was instigated in the House by the Opposition because it was actually initiated at the behest of PLP MPs attempting to use the UBP to force out Dr. Brown.

He said yesterday that he was excused from the party meeting in which the three-line whip was announced because he was working as a defence lawyer in a Supreme Court murder trial. He said he did not receive an e-mail sent out announcing the whip. He said that on the morning of the vote in the House, he contacted the United Bermuda Party's Director of Communications Don Grearson by e-mail.

He said he told Mr. Grearson that if the motion which was initiated in the House by the Opposition was backed by any PLP dissidents rebelling against Dr. Brown, then he himself would not vote for it.

The notice of the three-line whip, he said, came afterwards but he was not aware of it. "Had I been aware of it, I may have assessed my position differently, but I don't know. I can't answer that. I made my decision as things transpired."

However, he added: "I'm taking it on the chin. I can't say more than that. The party has decided. I don't necessarily agree with all of the circumstances (but) I am a person who is all about the process, even if it acts against me."

Darius Tucker also failed to vote in the no confidence motion and was suspended from his role as Shadow Sport, Youth and Recreation Minister.

He quit the party before the disciplinary committee met to decide his fate.

He is now sitting as an Independent MP.

Although he declined to comment in detail on his own situation, he told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I cannot speak for Mark but yes, I was aware that the three line whip was in place. I knew I would get in trouble for the stance I took."