Senator Jason Hayward has quit his leadership role in pressure group the People’s Campaign, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Mr Hayward, a founding member of the group, said he had decided to step back after he was appointed to the Upper House.

He added: “The People’s Campaign is a group of wide-ranging members, but I would be sitting advocating at one end and being part of the Government as well.

“My role has changed — as an appointed government senator I certainly could not continue as a leading member.”

Mr Hayward, president of the Bermuda Public Services Union, was prominent in some of the group’s standoffs with the One Bermuda Alliance government.

Chris Furbert, president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, and the Reverend Nicholas Tweed, the other leaders of the campaign, backed Mr Hayward in his Senate role.

Mr Tweed said: “There are members in the previous government that clearly had material interests in the legislation being passed.

“One thing nobody can say, and I dare anybody to prove otherwise — there is absolutely no legislation I can envision where Senator Hayward would have material benefits from a piece of legislation passing.

“I do not see Senator Hayward as having any kind of conflict of interest.

“He has been entrusted to serve the people and he knows who he is serving.”

The group released its 12- page list of policy proposals to the new Progressive Labour Party government on Friday.

Key points included a right for workers to join a union or form associations to defend their rights.

It also asked for an amendment to the Trade Union Act to increase employee protection and the ability of managers to organise.

The manifesto also called for tougher immigration policies and better training for Bermudians, as well as for the creation of a culture of entrepreneurship.

The campaign also wants to see price controls, standardised healthcare costs and a Workforce Equity Bill as well as more powerful complaints boards for the police and prison service.