Four rebel PLP MPs who failed to back Government over a new law allowing funeral homes to operate their own limousine services will not be disciplined by the party, Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons said yesterday.

MPs Derrick Burgess, Reginald Burrows, Elvin James and Dale Butler all left the House of Assembly before the vote on the issue -- which caused a storm of protest among taxi drivers, who claimed the move would hurt their business.

Mr. Burgess is head of the Bermuda Industrial Union, which represents more than 200 taxi drivers, Mr. James is a taxi owner/driver and Mr. Burrows a former cab driver.

PLP backbencher Dale Butler also absented himself from the chamber for the vote.

But Mr. Simmons said last night: "There will be no comeback, absolutely not, on this matter.'' And he added there had been no three-line whip -- which left Government MPs free to vote according to their personal views.

Mr. Simmons said: "If they wanted to support the party's position, they were free to do so.

"In their circumstances, which is taxi connections, they were free to vote, or not vote, as they wished.'' Veteran MP Reginald Burrows said last night: "I wasn't happy with the amendment to start off with.

"I had quite a bit of lobbying from the taxi drivers and I promised I would support them.

"But I didn't particularly want to vote against the party at this time, so I let my feelings be known by not voting at all.

"I think Mr. Burgess, who represents taxi drivers, and Mr. James, who owns a taxi, felt the same way.'' The amendment to allow a funeral home to set up its own transportation was claimed to be another blow to the taxi industry, already suffering from the long-term decline in tourism on the Island.

Mr. Butler said taxi drivers had been of assistance during last year's PLP General Election campaign -- particularly in his own Warwick East constituency.

Mr. Butler is understood to have been told by party chiefs that he could not speak during the debate -- although he touched on it during the motion to adjourn.

He said: "I couldn't kick a buddy who is already down any further. I chose not to vote at all.

"I wanted to speak and I was told I couldn't, so I said to hell with it and didn't vote at all.'' Mr. Butler added he did not think the funeral limousine idea would ever work and that perhaps the taxi drivers had "over-reacted'' to the likely financial impact on their business.

But he said: "I could see, however, the possible domino effect -- change the law to suit one group, the hotel industry might be next.'' Rebel MPs abstain And he called on the taxi trade to change direction and get together to promote new services themselves.

Mr. Butler said: "The drivers need to step back and turn their current protests into more viable alternatives by offering such services to funeral parlours and hotels.'' Angry cabbies yesterday on Friday picketed the House of Assembly in the run-up to the debate and vote on the amendment to the Motor Car Act.

Government MPs ran a gauntlet of brassed-off taxi drivers as they entered the House of Assembly on Friday morning.

Parked taxis lined the streets around Parliament Hill and after MPs convened for the day, drivers circled the House of Assembly hitting their horns in protest.

The noise was clearly audible in the chamber as MPs got down to business -- which led to Opposition jibes at Government, as UBP representatives asked who had called for a taxi.

After a roll call vote -- where MPs are logged by name on how they polled -- the amendment brought forward by Transport Minister Ewart Brown passed 20 votes to 12.

The Opposition UBP voted solidly against the measure after a marathon debate lasting more than four hours, with the PLP rebels leaving Government winners -- but with a slimmed-down majority.