Parties that failed to clinch Sandys North suggested that they would consider working together after the Progressive Labour Party secured just over a third of the by-election votes cast.

Marc Bean, of the Free Democratic Movement, pointed out that the PLP secured victory with 35 per cent of the vote.

He congratulated the Reverend Emily Gail Dill on her victory and said: “On our part we’re doing what we can to redouble our efforts and prepare for the next General Election."

Mr Bean added: “The main challenge that we find going forward is for the opposition parties, whether it’s the FDM or independents or the OBA [One Bermuda Alliance], to put our egos aside and work on a cohesive strategy so that we don’t cannibalise on each other’s votes.

“You can win an election with 35 per cent of the votes. It is not an indictment to the winner; it’s an indictment towards us because 65 per cent of the voters voted for one of the opposition parties.

“That shows that going forward this construct that we’re working on now is not tangible unless it’s to the benefit of the governing party. And so from a strategic perspective, you can expect and wouldn’t be surprised if the Premier, looking at this result, would seriously consider going to a General Election right now.

“Any tactician would think that’s the opportune time unless the opposition parties get ourselves together and work in unison. That’s what’s required going forward.“

Mr Bean added: “It’s not for the PLP to do anything different, it’s for us to adjust as the other opposition parties.“

Dr Dill won the by-election with 162 votes and Mr Bean came in second place in the four-way contest with 108.

Earlier David Burt, the Premier, sidestepped questions about a possible early election.

Asked if Dr Dill’s comfortable victory would tempt him to call an election soon, Mr Burt said: “Everyone wants to be inside a speculation. Tonight is a celebration and a confirmation that a daughter of Sandys has retained this seat for the Progressive Labour Party and that is the only discussion we will have this evening inside of this party.”

The OBA’s candidate Carl Neblett secured 91 of the 456 votes cast in a seat where registered voters totalled 1,200.

Jarion Richardson, the party’s leader, hinted that he may be open to collaboration with other political groups.

He said: “We’ve had a team on the ground now for quite some time and a lot of people worked very hard to speak to the community, to work with the community.

“It’s been an incredible effort.”

Mr Richardson said he was looking to carry out a post-mortem of the numbers and see what the party could do going forward.

Asked about Mr Bean’s suggestion for more collaboration, he said: “The OBA is here to strengthen the community, enforce integrity in politics and put responsible spending in place.”

“That doesn’t mean that we have to do it by ourselves.

“So if there’s a conversation to be had, we’re open to any conversation.”

Ci’re Bean, an independent candidate who secured 95 votes — about a fifth of all cast — said: "I feel encouraged. I feel it's been an amazing experience. I am 26 years old, probably five weeks in the political realm. I gave it a shot.

"I will be here, I will be around, and I will be back."

He added: "I will just continue doing what I have for the past eight years of my life and just stay engaged with the community."

Mr Bean said: "I honestly think when we are in the homes, it's the engagement, the personal exchanges that go on — the level of empathy, the level of transparency that was displayed during the canvassing.

“I believe that people really felt that they were heard and they also felt that they had somebody that would get in their corner and represent them, and not represent a party."