Ousted former Premier Jennifer Smith was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly yesterday, but she first had to see off a challenge from the United Bermuda Party.

The Opposition backed Government's choice of Stanley Lowe as speaker, but it put up Patricia Gordon-Pamplin to challenge Ms Smith.

Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt, who proposed Ms Gordon-Pamplin, admitted the Opposition had hoped to gain support from disgruntled Government backbenchers.

But he said he realised yesterday morning that no Government MPs were prepared to vote against Ms Smith, who was elected by a voice vote which was split along party lines.

"We had hoped that some of them would support Pat," said Mr. Barritt yesterday.

"Am I disappointed? Yes, but not surprised. We pretty much knew by this morning that we would (not) gain any support from the other side."

Mr. Barritt said the Opposition had backed Mr. Lowe as Speaker, but wanted a UBP member as Deputy Speaker in the interests of bi-partisanship.

But he said that by the time the UBP had formally approached Government about this, the PLP had chosen Ms Smith as its candidate.

"After they had decided on Ms Smith, we revisited it, and decided it was still the right thing to do," said Mr. Barritt.

"We were not persuaded that Ms Smith would be the best choice. We felt that having been Premier for five years and been fiercely partisan, she was not the most appropriate person to be Deputy Speaker.

"But she has been elected and we will have to wait and see."

Ms Smith told MPs: "I am pleased to have been given this honour and I look forward to serving the House fairly and equitably."

Afterwards she would only say: "I am looking forward to the new position."

When asked by The Royal Gazette if she was disappointed the Opposition had challenged her, she said: "Why would I be disappointed?"