Ex-Civil Servant Erwin Adderley last night jumped the fence and joined MPs after holding Pembroke West for the ruling United Bermuda Party.

But the Progressive Labour Party's share of the vote went up and losing candidate Rodney Smith vowed he would be back at the General Election.

Moments after the by-election count was announced, Mr. Adderley said: "I feel tired but elated and I'm glad that people have come forward and supported me.

I'll now have to work and vindicate that support.'' Mr. Adderley notched up a total of 618 (59.1 percent) votes, more than enough to join running mate Dr. Clarence Terceira on the floor of the House of Assembly today for the new Parliamentary session.

Mr. Smith netted 382 (36.5 per cent), while National Liberal Party candidate Graeme Outerbridge trailed in last with just 34 supporters (3.2 percent).

The turnout was 56.9 percent -- well off the 1993 General Election figure of 76.6 percent -- with a total of 1044 votes being cast from an electorate of 1834.

Mr. Adderley brushed off claims that the PLP had Government on the run in the traditional UBP seat.

He said: "From day one I knew I had a fight on my hands -- now I have to go go to work and make my margin even better at the General Election.'' And Premier Pamela Gordon, on hand at the Admiralty House count to congratulate her latest recruit, said: "We're very pleased, especially in light of a lot of controversy we have had to deal with over the last few weeks. "And we're just beginning -- but I'm happy at the degree of support there is for our candidate and the United Bermuda Party.'' Adderley takes Pembroke West Comparisons are difficult because of the Island's two-MPs per constituency set-up.

But, based on the joint vote for the PLP at the last vote in 1993, the two candidates got a total of 34 percent of the vote and the UBP men got 66 percent, meaning the PLP went up around 2.5 percent and the UBP share dropped by six percent.

Mr. Smith thanked the voters for the support they showed him and promised to continue to work the constituency in advance of a General Election, less than a year away at the most and probably in less than six months.

He added that he felt voters were looking for a candidate whose views were in tune with theirs.

And he said: "They were drawn to our views and the issues.'' PLP leader Jennifer Smith added: "We are very pleased. This is what we were working towards. I always said it was one step at a time and this is a giant step.

"When you get a new candidate, we could not have been disappointed even if Rodney had done less well.'' Ms Smith said: "I'm very happy -- I did think the voters were welcoming us into their homes.

"The result is helpful to us -- we knew this was an area which needed some work.

She insisted it was clear Pembroke West voters were looking for a committed candidate prepared to work for the constituency.

And she added: "I look forward to victory in Pembroke West at the next General Election.'' But Ms Gordon hit back that the PLP refrain was an old tune -- and not a popular one.

She said: "Each time we've had a by election, they've said the same thing. It gets to the point where it's all a bit old and tired.'' A stunned and dejected Mr. Outerbridge, however, admitted there was no argument about his showing.

He said he was "crestfallen'' at the worst result he had ever recorded in several ballot outings.

But he was not prepared to sound the death knell for the NLP until the results of the next General Election were analysed.

Mr. Outerbridge said: "It's always easy to give up when things are going badly.

"But unless we can really put up a serious fight at the next election, the game's over.

"The next election will be our Waterloo -- we'll either be Napoleon or the Duke of Wellington. I don't know which one.'' The by-election was caused by the decision by former Youth and Sport Minister Dr. David Dyer to quit politics.

Before the polls closed, The Royal Gazette quizzed voters on what they wanted to see for the area.

Most spoken to mirrored the concerns of Bermuda at large -- with an emphasis on the war against crime and drugs, a good educational system for the young and safer conduct on the Island's roads.

By-election at a Glance How Pembroke West voted in last night's by-election: Erwin Adderley (UBP) 618 (59.1%) Rodney Smith (PLP) 382 (36.5%) Graeme Outerbridge (NLP) 34 (3.2%) Spoiled ballots 10 (0.9%) Votes cast: 1,044 Eligible voters: 1,834 Turnout 56.9% 1993 General Election result: David Dyer (UBP) 917; Clarence Terceira (UBP) 874; Carvel van Putten (PLP) 468; Michael Cox (PLP) 454. Turnout: 1,392 (76.6 percent)