Marc Bean told Progressive Labour Party members he believes Michael Dunkley, the Premier, is in collusion with Ewart Brown, the former Premier, to oust him as Leader of the Opposition, according to sources.

The claim is said to have been made at Alaska Hall last week during a meeting to discuss the leadership of the PLP.

However, the remark is understood to be separate to the allegation that sparked Dr Brown’s threat of legal action against Mr Bean, reported by The Royal Gazette yesterday.

One party member said: “Bean said that Brown and Dunkley are working together to overthrow him.

“It’s odd to think they were so close for all that time, but I’m not surprised that relationship turned out the way it has.”

When contacted yesterday, Mr Bean said: “I do not comment on internal matters.”

Dr Brown, who declined to comment, acted as a mentor to Mr Bean early in his political career and endorsed him to take his own parliamentary seat in Warwick South Central after his retirement in 2010.

Yesterday, this newspaper reported how Dr Brown’s attorney, Wendell Hollis, had written to Mr Bean accusing him of libellous comments at two meetings at Alaska Hall this week.

Meanwhile, promoter Jason Sukdeo has ruled himself out of running for Constituency 13 to replace Glenn Blakeney, who announced his retirement from politics last week.

Mr Blakeney is one of seven MPs to quit Mr Bean’s Shadow Cabinet. Media reports had said that Mr Sukdeo intended to run, but he told The Royal Gazette: “It’s not true and I am not even sure where they got the information from.”

Several sources have said senator Diallo Rabain has been canvassing in Devonshire North Central.

An announcement on the PLP’s by-election candidate is expected to be made today.

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