David Burt, Zane DeSilva and Walter Roban are all tipped for potential bids for the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party.

A source close to the party told The Royal Gazette each of the three MPs is “likely” to challenge Leader of the Opposition Marc Bean at a delegates conference set for early December.

The source said that “little progress” over the matter was made at a central committee meeting on Monday evening and that a challenge is now expected at the conference.

PLP deputy leader Mr Burt, who resigned from his shadow finance position last Friday and has long been tipped as the next leader, is said to have announced to party colleagues that he cannot work with Mr Bean.

Sources have interpreted Mr Burt’s resignation statement — in which he spoke of the need for a unified PLP — as a suggestion that he could bring the party together in a way that Mr Bean has failed. Mr DeSilva resigned as Shadow Minister of Tourism last December, saying he could “no longer serve in a Shadow Cabinet led by Marc Bean”.

At that time, he brushed off rumours that he is intent on becoming Leader of the Opposition, telling this newspaper: “I never put myself up for leadership — it’s not my agenda to do so.”

Mr Roban, a former minister and stalwart known for his loyalty to the party leader, has remained in Mr Bean’s Shadow Cabinet in the face of multiple resignations by colleagues.

Neither Mr DeSilva or Mr Roban responded to questions sent by this newspaper yesterday, while Mr Burt responded: “I have no comment to make on internal party matters.”

This newspaper has not been able to reach Mr Bean since Mr Burt’s resignation.