speculation she could cross the floor of the House of Assembly today.

VSB news led with the story that Grace Bell could be poised to leave the United Bermuda Party benches and sit with the Progressive Labour Party.

And ZBM news reported that St. George's South MP Grace Bell and ex-Environment Minister Irving Pearman, who represents Warwick East, could be set to jump ship.

Last night Mrs. Bell appeared to dismiss the TV claims.

She said: "If these people want to get into rumour-mongering, then let them.'' But when asked outright if she was planning to quit the UBP, Mrs. Bell said: "I don't have anything to say.'' Then she put the phone down.

Premier Pamela Gordon met Mrs. Bell yesterday afternoon at Cabinet Office -- but insisted that had nothing to do with her MP quitting the side.

Ms Gordon said: "I'm very sure if Mrs. Bell had any difficulties such as this rumour suggests, she would have come to me.'' Running mate Rick Spurling said: "I don't think this is true, but nothing is ever absolutely certain.'' Mr. Spurling said he had seen Mrs. Bell at the UBP's weekly caucus yesterday.

He said: "We talked about a number of political issues but nothing to do with her crossing the floor.'' Mrs. Bell was elected to the House of Assembly in 1985, but has never held Ministerial rank.

She resigned as Government Whip to enter the contest for the Deputy Speaker's chair in 1995, but lost out to the PLP's Stanley Lowe after the anti-Independence `Rebel Five' stayed away from the vote.

Earlier yesterday, Premier Pamela Gordon laughed off questions about possible defections as she explained her decision to chop and change her Cabinet and Ministerial portfolios.

Mr. Pearman flatly denied he was set to defect from the Government side.

He said: "How people can come up with this vulgar kind of speculation is beyond me. It has no basis in fact whatsoever.

"It's not only despicable, it's vile. How someone could conjure up this tale, I don't know but it does need to be shot down.'' Mr. Pearman added: "Some people in journalism take licence and report things which have no basis in fact.

"This will not happen -- I've never contemplated that and there's no reason why I should.'' And he said: "I've served 15 years in a Government which has been very successful.'' "Why should I, in my twilight years, join a party which has never won anything,'' he asked.

Mr. Pearman, 71, left Cabinet in Wednesday's massive reshuffle of Ministers and portfolios.

But he repeated that he wanted to leave Cabinet as he and his wife are looking after their young grandchildren and also that he had told Premier Pamela Gordon that he would not be contesting the next General Election.