Progressive Labour Party MP Wayne Perinchief says rebel MPs will not be muzzled despite threats by party bosses of disciplinary action.

And the former Cabinet Minister said MPs had every right to discuss their leadership and the party should not risk the splits of the mid-80s where heavy-handed expulsions prolonged the PLP's time in Opposition.

Mr. Perinchief, backed by former Education Minister Randy Horton and former Premier Alex Scott, denied the three were acting out a personal vendetta against Dr. Brown when they raised the leadership issue at a private meeting of MPs and Senators on Wednesday night.

On TV this week, party chairman David Burt suggested that MPs who had raised the issue in "such a public fashion" needed to be considered.

Mr. Burt said he didn't think expulsions would be called for but options include suspensions.

He added: "We cannot allow people to work outside the constitution."

Party bosses argue PLP delegates, not MPs, must select the leader.

Mr. Burt's remarks on punishment contrasted with Premier Ewart Brown who said on ZBM: "We never want to suppress opinions and people have the right to question the leadership, the quality of the leadership."

Mr. Perinchief told The Royal Gazette: "For Mr. Burt to talk about disciplinary action against elected parliamentarians he's completely at sea, he's made a terrible error, certainly democracy would support that elected parliamentarians in their private caucus discuss the leadership.

"It is undemocratic and dictatorial to suggest that there can be no questioning of the leadership that embraces the whole cabinet not just the Premier.

"It's saying you must be muzzled (and) if you are not, you will be disciplined.

"Is this a dictatorship or a free democratic society? The Bermuda Constitution allows discussion.

"If anyone should be disciplined for exposing the internal workings of caucus, it should be the person who went on the news and called names and specific processes of the caucus that was the Premier."

He said Mr. Scott only went public in defending the right of caucus to discuss the leadership after the Premier had blown it to the media.

The PLP caucus is a parliamentary group formed to discuss, in confidence, parliamentary business, said Mr. Perinchief, although he admitted the party constitution has a process for selecting the party leader.

"That body cannot constitutionally appoint the Premier."

Members nominate the person they want, however the Bermuda Constitution holds that the Premier is the person who enjoys the majority of the House of Assembly, explained Mr. Perinchief.

Asked if Mr. Burt would have been better advised to keep quiet rather than inflame opponents Mr. Perinchief said: "He is I suppose acting on directions of his boss the Premier."

And Mr. Perinchief pointed out the Premier had, by public admission, seconded a motion to have free discussion of the leadership issue.

"So why is that process now 'undemocratic', 'eroding the party' and, if you listen to the Thaao Dill show, 'ridiculous, self-serving'?

"You have two senior members of the Government, previous ministers, and a prior Premier how do we become a group that has a personal axe to grind?

"We have a responsibility to the Country, to the Government and to the PLP to discuss what direction the leadership is taking. We are acting responsibly, not irresponsibly.

"We are not doing it the press, we didn't do it out in the open, we are doing it the caucus the parameters that we are allowed to do."

And he urged PLP colleagues to look at precedent. "Dame Lois when she was leader took disciplinary action against a group of MPs who dared to question her leadership.

"It resulted in another party being formed after expulsion against senior members with the result that the PLP was held back for almost two decades from taking over Government.

"If we want to precipitate the same action now from a party leader, because he would have to sanction it, it widens our eyes and boggles our minds as to what type of dictatorial message that would send both to the party and to the Country.

"You don't dislodge three senior members of the PLP easily, it does not happen. We were elected by our constituents to serve the Country, the Government and our people and we will continue to do so."

He said there was support from the public and among other MPs for the stand the rebels took but he did not claim the majority of the backbench were in favour of ousting the Premier.

"It might be that 99 percent of the caucus supports the Premier. So why would there be a fear of discussion of the leadership?

"If I was confident in my abilities as a leader, in my abilities and my support, I would have free and open discussion at any time, people could challenge me at any time on any issue.

"Fear only comes in when there is a feeling of disquiet and insecurity, when a leader fears a questioning of his power."

Mr. Perinchief would not say what the issues were with Dr. Brown's leadership, other than to say it was not personal as the Premier had labelled it.

"The discussion will take place next week in caucus. I will not say anything now about my personal position.

"We are going to have a free and unfettered open debate as we should have. Let the chips fall where they may after that.

"But I would say after that, the Government and Progressive Labour Party will not be the same. There is going to be change both inside the party and within the Government. There will be change."

He said he didn't know if Dr. Brown would survive.

"It is not about him being gone or not gone, it's about the processes of leadership and the whole framework where we stand as a Government and where Bermuda stands in the eyes of the world with the present leadership.

"The world is watching. International business is concerned, PLP supporters are concerned, there is a Caribbean community that is concerned Turks and Caicos and CARICOM."

And Mr. Perinchief said America and Great Britain were also watching very closely.

"The concerns are obvious that the Bermuda Government and its leadership needs realigning, I will leave it like that."

And Mr. Perinchief said Government could be in for a rough ride over some bills this summer.

He said: "Backbenchers are free to speak and support their constituency and their own point of view. That is the power of the backbench. The backbench has the majority, we have the power."

Backbench power is rarely wielded but Mr. Perinchief said: "You will see increasingly backbenchers standing up and pushing issues they firmly believe in, even if it goes against what the Cabinet and Premier wish."

Some believe the gaming bill which had to be withdrawn earlier this year after a backbench savaging from Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Scott could come back this session.

"It will be tricky (for him)," predicted Mr. Perinchief.

And he said a bill to introduce curfews for teen bikers would also likely run into trouble if it comes up.

"Having given 18-year-olds the vote we are certainly not going to discriminate against 16-year-olds who are only two years short of legal majority to move freely about this Country at any time."

Responsibility must be given to young people and their parents, said the former Community and Cultural Affairs Minister.

Giving Government the power of that choice had all the trappings of dictatorship said Mr. Perinchief. "I would resist that tooth and nail any form of dictatorship or social control."