Progressive Labour Party insiders have poured cold water on speculation that one of the most well-known faces in politics might disappear from the scene.

E-mails sent to Senator David Burch prompted the following auto-answer response: "Please be advised that the appointment of Senator, Lieutenant Colonel, the Honourable David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, as the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing will expire on Friday October 29th, 2010 upon the retirement of the current Premier — as such, in order to complete the current outstanding work — your request cannot be accommodated at this time.

"Please resend your request on November 4th, 2010 — by which time a new Minister will have been appointed and can address your concern."

All appointments in the Cabinet and the Senate are automatically vacated when a Premier leaves office. It will be for whoever wins the post Paula Cox, Terry Lister or Dale Butler to appoint their own Cabinet and Senators.

It was unclear whether Sen. Burch's e-mail response was a simple reference to that fact or an indication he plans to retire, or even seek future election as an MP.

Sen. Burch was said to be on vacation yesterday, and could not be reached via telephone or e-mail. However, party insiders said they thought it unlikely that the Senate will resume in November without him.

"There's a rumour going around that he plans to step down and not serve again, I'm not sure how true that is," said one. "I've been hearing it less and less as it gets closer to the date [of the PLP leadership election]. My feeling is if he was asked to continue on by Paula, he would do so."

Sen. Burch was hospitalised last summer with what he later described as a "life-threatening" illness although he never spoke publicly about what it was. He acknowledged when he returned to work two months later that he would have to cut down on the long hours he used to put in.

The insider said: "I've noticed since he has been out of hospital that he's been a little more relaxed." Nonetheless, he added: "My sense is if the right person asked him, he might stay on. It would be a big loss in the Senate if he was gone."

Another party source said: "He's stated he's hoping he would still be in the position but you never know. I think it's just his way of saying 'I don't have the time to answer all of your questions'. I'm not personally making much of that.

"My personal prediction would be that he will be called to serve again, although I don't know in what capacity. He doesn't want to hedge any bets he knows he will be back in, and I think he's just playing games."

A third source agreed "it is an unusual e-mail". But added: "I think this is a mere formalisation of what actually takes place. It does not rule out reappointment, either in the current form or something different. All Senate and Minister appointments, as you know, are vacated when the current Premier no longer holds office."

A fourth party insider commented: "I don't think him and Paula have seen eye to eye on a lot of things recently. It might be almost 'if it happens it happens'."

The source said it would not be Sen. Burch's style to share his future plans with members of the party, and he is probably enjoying the speculation his e-mail message has prompted.

"He doesn't care. That's him. Maybe he wants that to play the public," said the insider. "At the end of the day you might expect all the Senators to be antsy and acting a little strange. Particularly the ones that are collecting an extra cheque for being a Minister. They might be completely out of their positions, and at least MPs will still have a seat [after the leadership election]. It's silly season."

PLP-supporting blogger Jonathan Starling commented: "Lt. Col. Burch has always been a stickler for protocol, and, as noted, protocol dictates that the Senators are to resign their seats when the Premier himself resigns.

"So, I think it may just be what it is, a cigar. It is somewhat more complicated of course when the Senator is also a Minister, as the Ministry still needs a Minister even though a Cabinet shuffle is inevitable."