A backlash from angry taxi drivers could harm the Progressive Labour Party or even turf it from power, says former supporter Lee Tucker.

Mr. Tucker, who used to head the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association, said a large chunk of drivers, possibly most of them, had traditionally been in the PLP camp.

But a shift away from the party among a voting block of around 1,500 active drivers could help to decide the election.

In the last election if 80 people had switched to the United Bermuda Party in five key constituencies the party would have won power.

Mr. Tucker told The Royal Gazette: "You saw what happened last time in some areas. It was tight. It could tip the balance.

"From my personal standpoint the mood is very much against Ewart Brown and against the Government."

He said Government had reneged on a five percent fare increase two years ago, had done nothing last year and then had given a 10.5 percent increase. But he said costs of driving had gone up much more.

"In 2004 it cost $45,000 to replace a car. Now it costs $55-60,000."

He said fuel prices had soared and there was no end in sight while garage repair prices had gone up by about a third.

And there is lingering anger over the imposition of GPS which Dr. Brown forced through after many attempts.

The Premier had argued the technology would speed up response times but Mr. Tucker said the mandatory machines were another financial burden and an intrusion on privacy.

Mr. Tucker said: "I have voted for the party in the past, I have supported the PLP. This particular time I don't know where I am going ¿ it's definitely not PLP."

In the 1998 election taxi drivers had helped ferry PLP voters to the polls.

And driver William Tucker said he had been elated with that 1998 election victory but he could not back the party this time around and was by no means alone.

He said: "It is probably less against the PLP as opposed to they don't want five more years of Ewart Brown."

Mr Tucker said Dr. Brown had been Transport Minister since 1998 during which time the industry had moved from being described as one of the best in the world to a situation where there was nothing but turmoil and disharmony.

He said the PLP had put out glowing claims about GPS in a campaign brochure, knowing full well the technology wasn't being used by most of the industry and had been implemented in the wrong way.

"Two companies don't use it and one company probably has about 20 percent of its drivers using it. If I had read they had improved it and it is not working as well as expected but they are still working on it I could deal with that, you are not hoodwinking the public. Do you think we are stupid?"

Asked about the fare rise, which came more than two years after it was promised and was granted after the busy season was over, Mr. Tucker said: "There is anger, disgust and disappointment. He had to give us an increase because there was an election, let's face it."

Mr. Tucker said that with Dr. Brown operating as both Transport Minister and Premier, the drivers had realistically lost a chance to appeal to the top when they didn't like a decision from the Ministry.

"We don't have a sympathetic ear. It's going to take a fresh look by a fresh minister, maybe even a different Government. What I am gathering in the taxi lines is we just don't want Dr. Brown as our Minister."

However driver Alaine Mouchette said she was staying loyal to the PLP.

"There has been some grumbling but I really can't say if there's any organised feeling.

"As a matter of fact I was speaking to two taxi drivers today who were supportive of the Government but those are just the circles I travel in."