Jerome Dill has had much to contemplate in the wake of the United Bermuda Party's election defeat.

Not least has been his removal from politics -- at least for the time being.

It wasn't even as if Mr. Dill could predict the fate which was about to befall him.

He lost his seat in Pembroke West Central by just 65 votes, making him the old government's biggest, or narrowest, loser.

He still believes there were no "crystal clear'' signs that Government was about to change.

But it did, and so has his life. Now he's back at his desk, wading through mountains of paperwork, as a partner and commercial litigation lawyer at Appleby, Spurling and Kempe.

And the thought of standing for Parliament again could not be further from his mind.

"It may surprise some people, but I will be a supporter of this Government to the extent that I can be,'' he says.

"If it doesn't work out then I will reassess my position and my political plans.

"I think the sensible course of action at this time is just to wait and see.

I only entered politics because I thought there was a need for somebody who had Bermuda first in their heart.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see Bermuda prosper without my own personal involvement but certainly, if the need for someone like me arises again, I would like to think I would be there.'' His own defeat at the polls came last of all. It was the last result to come in.

He quickly had to come to terms with the fact that he and long-serving Ann Cartwright DeCouto were no longer wanted by their constituents.

And he could not be contacted for an hour by reporters hungry for his reaction to the rejection.

Mr. Dill denies he grabbed a quiet moment to shed a tear, collect his thoughts and think about what might have been.

He insists he was simply en route from the UBP's campaign headquarters to the party's post-election gathering at the Surf Club, where he described the mood as "sombre and surprised''.

He says he was more disappointed for ousted collegaues like Quinton Edness and Ann Cartwright DeCouto, his running mate, than he was for himself.

He says he was also upset for Pamela Gordon, the former Premier, who rang him at home to commiserate with him on his own personal defeat.

But Mr. Dill admits he did not predict losing his seat -- or losing the Country.

"You have got to appreciate the position I was in,'' he says. "In whatever I do, I never even contemplate being unsuccessful. That's just my personal approach to life.

"My focus was purely on winning. And I don't think there was even any indication that we would lose to the extent that we did.

"There was always the possibility we could lose but there were no crystal clear signs.'' For Mr. Dill, the dust clearly hasn't settled on the dawn of the new Progressive Labour Party era.

The UBP's defeat can't have sunk in yet. Mr. Dill, 38 and not yet losing his memory, still refers to the PLP as the `Opposition' -- immediately correcting himself and saying `Government'.

"It's a mistake I'm making all the time at the moment,'' he says. "It takes some getting used to.'' But when he does reflect on what led to the change, he can clearly identify at least some pointers that the UBP was on its way out.

"We did have the great hamburger debate,'' he says. "Then there was the succession of Premiers, three in a short time.

"Then there was the great independence debate. These are all things which I'm sure operated on the minds of people and created a general sense of instability.'' One thing he hopes will stabilise is the issue of race in Bermudian elections.

Like Pamela Gordon, he believes the PLP's victory -- and image as a "black Government'' -- could put an end to the racial lines along which both parties were characterised.

"I do not accept that the PLP is a black party and the UBP is a white party,'' he says. "But the beauty of this election defeat for the UBP is that it should stop all that.

"If race featured in an election campaign again then it would be a very unfortunate thing for this Island. It really would.'' That will all be decided in the future. And the next election is light years ahead for Mr. Dill, already piling through the legal files on his desk.

"I'm also looking forward to having some spare time for a change,'' he says.

"There's no question that I will miss being a Parliamentarian. I enjoyed it very much.

"But if the Country prospers without my personal involvement, that's fine. If I have to play a central role again, then that's fine too.'' You get the impression either option could come about. But don't write off Jerome Dill's political fortunes yet.

ON THE OUTSIDE -- Former Deputy Premier and Education Minister, Jerome Dill, says life outside the House of Assembly is a mixed blessing; at least he'll have move time for family and leisure.