Efforts are being made to oust Marc Bean from his position as leader of the Progressive Labour Party according to sources within his own party.

Members have pointed to poor poll results and a string of controversies including Mr Bean’s continuing court case reportedly linked to an incident involving former One Bermuda Alliance senator Toni Daniels.

One senior member of the PLP told The Royal Gazette: “I am aware of efforts being made to replace Mr Bean as leader of the party.”

This newspaper’s most recently commissioned poll, in May, showed Mr Bean had a 27 per cent favourability rating, compared with 34 per cent for PLP deputy leader David Burt, 48 per cent for Premier Michael Dunkley and 32 per cent for Deputy Premier Bob Richards. At that time, 36 per cent of people said they would vote OBA in a general election, compared with 33 per cent for the PLP.

While Mr Burt is seen by many as the most likely candidate to replace Mr Bean, some are said to be keen for a more experienced politician to take the reins. Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva is also said to have had ambitions for the top job for some time.

The next PLP leadership contest is not due until October 2018 but according to sources a special delegates conference could be called before then if a majority of MPs want a change in leadership.

Last October, Mr Bean received a leadership challenge from Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown, but he was overwhelmingly endorsed by delegates, winning by 85 votes to nine at Devonshire Recreation Club.

But members are said to have grown frustrated that Mr Bean has continued to court controversy, including the accusation by the OBA that he verbally threatened MPs in the House of Assembly, which led to a motion of censure against him in May.

Such incidents, said one member, have distracted from the party’s attempts to establish itself as a credible Opposition capable of taking over the Government.

Another source close to the party said that some older members have said they will not vote in the next PLP leadership election if Mr Bean is in the seat.

The source said: “They can call a special delegates conference. It is not just a question of changing a leader — they feel that the PLP has now reached a crossroads where it has to talk about a change in leadership and their present outlook in terms of how they are moving.”

That source said Mr Bean was initially popular because his outspoken manner was seen as a direct contrast to former Premier Paula Cox, who lost the 2012 general election.

“So they almost went the other way,” the source said.

Mr Bean declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper yesterday.