Assembly, but both parties have agreed Bermuda shorts should be allowed.

The PLP also favour ethnic-style Nehru suits, safari suits and shorts for women MPs, but the UBP are against these forms of dress because they want to maintain the current dignity and decorum of the House.

The parties agree that women Parliamentarians should be allowed to wear trousers.

Opposition MPs were gloating on Friday when Premier Jennifer Smith withdrew an earlier report on relaxing dress code rules after claims she had broken tradition by not letting dissenters put forward a minority report.

Opposition members on the Rules and Privileges Committee, Pamela Gordon and John Barritt, said they were bypassed when the report without their signatures or that of Speaker Stanley Lowe was presented.

The Speaker has now allowed the Premier to withdraw that earlier report.

Instead a majority one signed by the Speaker, Ms Smith, Dale Butler and Randy Horton was submitted while the Opposition tabled a minority report.

After the Premier withdrew the earlier report, the Speaker quoted Alexander Pope who said: "To err is human, to forgive is divine.'' Mr. Barritt said most UBP members wanted to keep the status quo but "could live'' with an acceptance of Bermuda shorts and trousers for women.

On Bermuda shorts, Mr. Barritt said: "It has always been the acceptable national dress for the community, so why not have it in the House of Assembly? "Personally I don't like them much.

"We also recognise the point of view of women who feel they should have an option beside a dress and a skirt.

"They look quite smart in trousers.'' Mr. Barritt said he was glad the Speaker had prevailed.

He said: "The Premier tried to muscle through the report without giving the findings to the Committee Chairman who is the Speaker and who was particularly snubbed.''