Premier Jennifer Smith yesterday called the long-awaited election for July 24 and was in a confident mood that the Progressive Labour Party would win a second term in office.

United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons welcomed the news and declared that it was time for “a new United Bermuda Party Government”.

The PLP has a long-standing commitment to seeking independence from Britain, but the Premier refused to confirm or deny whether it will push for separation from London if the party wins again - saying only that voters will need to wait to see the manifesto.

And Bermudians are in for the longest campaign in recent history - with six weeks set aside for canvassing as opposed to the normal 17 days.

Legislation to introduce the new 36 seat single member constituencies allows for a minimum of 31 days campaigning, but the Premier said she was allowing six weeks to make “special allowances for the newness of the single seat process”.

And voters will be allowed to register for the election up to seven days after the Governor signs the election writ - which is expected today or tomorrow.

In a break with protocol, the Premier announced she was seeking an election at a press conference before informing Governor Sir John Vereker she was about to do so.

After the lunchtime press conference at the Cabinet surrounded by all her ministers except Renee Webb and Terry Lister, she rushed to the Fairmont Southampton Hotel - where the Governor was at a 50th anniversary lunch for the Hospitals Auxiliary - to ask him to prorogue Parliament and call the election.

The Premier called the poll the day after Sir John signed into law the bill which introduced single seat constituencies.

At her press conference yesterday, the Premier said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank all of the Government team.

“From Cabinet Ministers to the most newly-elected Member of Parliament, the Government team has done an excellent job in the first term of the first PLP Government.

“During our first four and a half years in office, we have weathered many storms, celebrated some successes, dealt with a few crises and manoeuvred around unexpected events.

“The skills demonstrated by our ministers and parliamentarians - of patience and resilience - have been tested and tried, and all have passed with flying colours.

“Over the next few weeks there will be many opportunities to remind the Bermudian electorate of Government's record of achievement, for there are many, but the one which will be most evident in this period is the achievement of single seat constituencies, the culmination of a 40-year struggle to increase democracy on this Island.

“Finally, I must admit to mixed feelings in launching the election campaign for mixed with the elation that comes with campaigning is a feeling of sadness that we do so without the presence of one who played an integral role in the last general election.

“We shall miss the late Honourable David Allen, a man who gave his life for this country. It is in his memory and indomitable spirit that we continue our efforts to create a better Bermuda for all Bermudians in our second term.”

When asked if the PLP will go for Independence if re-elected, she said: “You will have to wait to see the platform.

“But we have already given an undertaking when we came to office that we would not do it in the first term, and perhaps not the second term, certainly not without going to the public as part of our election platform.”

But in what may be a hint that Independence will not be in the PLP manifesto, retiring Attorney General Dame Lois Browne-Evans said yesterday: “I used to say I would see independence on my rocking chair, now I don't know when I'm going to see it.”

The Premier said the issues “remained the same” and the PLP “will be campaigning on our record”.

She said July 24 was her third or fourth poll choice. She had a few for last year, but had to wait until the single seat constituency legislation was passed.

She added: “You will not have failed to miss that it is a significant date when the students are home on vacation.”

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney refused to confirm if the Premier broke protocol by not informing the Governor she was going to ask him to prorogue Parliament for the election.

He would only say yesterday: “In accordance with the Constitution, the Premier gave the Governor advice on proroguing the legislature at lunchtime.

“The Governor has accepted the advice of the Premier to prorogue Parliament. Action is at hand in Government House to do that. The date has been set for July 24 and the Parliamentary Registrar and her team have arrangements in hand to bring that about.”