Backbencher Dale Butler will today officially launch his bid to be Premier by calling for the Island to come together to tackle homelessness and other social issues.

Mr. Butler plans to appoint a senator, possibly from within the church community, specifically to focus on the homeless, seniors and disabled and act as a spiritual adviser to Cabinet, if he pulls off a shock victory at October's Progressive Labour Party conference.

And yesterday he repeated his pledge to invite input from the Opposition, saying experienced United Bermuda Party MPs John Barritt and Grant Gibbons could have roles in his administration.

"Why? Because we are a Bermuda team. Not a PLP team and not a UBP team," the former Social Rehabilitation Minister told The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Butler has previously conceded his ideas of reaching out to the UBP and stopping "beating up on whites" mean he has an uphill task convincing hard-core PLP supporters he's the right man to replace Premier Ewart Brown.

He said: "My ideas are fresh, brand new, never heard before. People are going to say, 'Wow, let's look at this!'

"We are looking at fresh new things to unify the Country. It's a common cause."

The former school principal, who has campaigned on behalf of the homeless, will launch his bid at the Salvation Army Shelter in Parsons Road at 12.30 p.m. today.

He was outside La Trattoria restaurant in Hamilton for five hours yesterday, collecting tins of food for the needy and chatting with the public while donning a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan: "The Butler Delivers — Together Everyone Achieves More."

Donations came from groups including ChildWatch, the Filipinos Association and MarketPlace.

"Win or lose, we will help the homeless," explained Mr. Butler.

"From the start of the campaign, we can say that we helped the needy."

Mr. Butler said if successful he would appoint a senator responsible for specific social issues, who would be charged with completing a comprehensive report into seniors and advise Cabinet on values, morals and principles as the "voice of the church".

He would also appoint a senator with special responsibility for green matters, while he could have two people responsible for Washington DC, such as former PLP Senator Calvin Smith, or one-time Finance Minister Dr. Gibbons.

"There would be room for a John Barritt either in my Cabinet, or as an adviser to my Cabinet," he added.

"It's not PLP, not UBP, not BDA, it's Bermuda. We are not as unified as we should be for a small country. I can't do it by myself, it has to be a team effort between the Cabinet, the backbench and the Country. Together, everyone."

Deputy Premier Paula Cox, widely considered the hot favourite among delegates, launched her campaign in front of a host of Cabinet members, while fellow contender Terry Lister has been holding weekly town hall meetings.

"In many halls in Bermuda, it's seen as a coronation for Paula Cox," said Mr. Butler.

"But we feel it's a healthy sign of democracy that we have three outstanding people who have put their names forward."

Community activist Charles Spanswick, who was at the food collection, said he would join the PLP if Mr. Butler is made Premier.

"Mr. Butler is a dynamic, outright honest person. He has had a lot of support all morning. We just hope and pray the delegates see that too," he said.

At today's launch, Mr. Butler will unveil his social agenda. A second event takes place at Harbour Nights tomorrow, at which he will reveal his regeneration plan.