Government backbencher Dale Butler has volunteered to take part in the United Bermuda Party's drug testing of MPs - even though his own party dismissed the plan as an election stunt.

The UBP announced on Thursday that all its MPs will submit to drugs tests twice a year.

The House of Assembly set up a committee to look at the issue in 1999 but nothing has happened.

Mr. Butler yesterday wrote to Opposition leader Dr. Grant Gibbons offering to take part in the testing.

"While it was my understanding the there was a House Committee to examine drug testing of MPs, I noticed that your party has in fact jumped the gun and initiated its own process," wrote the Warwick North East MP.

"Reasons for your actions are immaterial to me. I would like it to be known that I have no problem in participating and will pay whatever it cost to be drug tested."

Launching the initiative on Thursday, the UBP called on the Progressive Labour Party to also test its MPs.

But PLP spokesman Glenn Blakeney told the Bermuda Sun: "It is a real policking ploy, which I think is going to be indicative of type of campaign they (the UBP) will run - trying to flesh out whatever they suspect to be advantageous to their cause during an election.

"If they are going to do something, why call on the PLP? What would be their motive? If they were doing it out of some kind of noble intent they would just do it. They're doing it because it is an election year."