Island MPs are set to get free rein to vote with their conscience on a proposal to kill off hanging and flogging in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The news came as the Opposition United Bermuda Party carried out a massive telephone poll of voters to determine public support for -- or against -- the measure to remove capital and corporal punishment from the lawbooks.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister was staying tight-lipped over his party's plans for the vote, likely to take place on Friday or Monday.

But insiders from both parties hinted that they will both reach the same conclusion and allow a free vote on the issue.

Mr. Lister said: "We have discussed the issue in caucus each week -- but we haven't finalised how we're going to vote.

"We will decide next week whether it will be a party vote or a free vote.'' But Progressive Labour Party insiders said a free vote -- rather than the Whips being called on to mobilise the vote on party lines -- was increasingly likely.

And one pointed out that the generally anti-hanging PLP could expect no more than four of its 25 voting MPs to be in favour of retention of the death penalty in any case -- still giving Government a clear majority.

Speaker Stanley Lowe would only cast a vote in the unlikely event of a tied ballot.

Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon said her party would not take a final position until the results of polling were clear.

She added: "Once we get that completed, we will know by early next week the feeling of the public.'' Ms Gordon said: "We're trying to be as fair as possible -- but we want the views of the public, which is more than the Government has done.

"At least people will have their say in the matter and we'll take it from there.'' UBP insiders, however, pointed out that the referendum held in the early nineties -- which backed keeping hanging -- was a vote of conscience for the entire Island.

And they predicted a free vote decision by the Opposition -- with the majority of the Parliamentary UBP likely to vote for abolition as well.

After the PLP said it would introduce a bill to end hanging, the UBP said a referendum to let the people decide was a better route.

And Opposition MPs also called for tough penalties -- like life without parole or even hard labour -- to replace the supposed deterrent effect of the rope.

The Government move came after the UK signalled in its White Paper on a new deal for overseas territories that hanging and flogging would have to go to keep Britain on the right side of its international treaties.

And the UK Government -- which has already abolished the death penalty in other overseas territories -- warned it could end the rope in Bermuda by Act of Parliament if Bermuda did not toe the line.

The last hangings in Bermuda were in 1997 -- the death penalty has been imposed since, but routinely commuted to life in jail. Flogging has not been used since the early 1960s.