Dale Butler yesterday became the third MP to officially launch a campaign to take over from Premier Ewart Brown. Whether his advisers think his ideas are politically savvy or not, he told Tim Smith he's sticking with them.

If Dale Butler is worried about his lack of support from parliamentary colleagues, he's picked an unusual way of winning them round.

Against all the advice from his campaign team, the maverick backbencher announced a hefty Cabinet pay cut as a key plank of his platform when he launched his unlikely challenge to be Premier yesterday.

Mr. Butler says he was repeatedly warned a ten percent pay cut for Ministers — in addition to a 20 percent drop for the Premier — would put people off wanting to be part of his team.

But, never one to put the wishes of party leaders ahead of those of the Country, Mr. Butler refused to back down — insisting Ministers will also have to pay for their own gas and BlackBerrys if he becomes the man in charge.

"I was told to take that bit out by all my advisers," the Warwick North East MP told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"They told me over ten times. They said it would mean they wouldn't want to serve in my Cabinet.

"But how can you have people around you suffering, losing their jobs or worried about their jobs, while we are just dancing along as though we are not affected?

"Even though these are only small savings, we are leaders and we have to lead by example and show that we care. That money could go back into helping young people and seniors."

Mr. Butler's proposal would see the Premier's salary drop from $200,000 to $160,000 and Ministers' from $100,000 to $90,000. MPs' salaries would stick at $50,000, meaning the gap between front and backbenchers would narrow, reducing the incentive for Ministers to toe the line.

He's not alone in thinking Bermuda's leaders shouldn't be feathering their nests while urging everyone else to scrimp and save. Finance Minister Paula Cox pledged to turn down a 50 percent pay rise proposed by Premier Ewart Brown five months ago; around the same time fellow contender Terry Lister publicly called for MPs to give up a portion of their salaries to show solidarity with the rest of the Island.

Like Mr. Lister, Mr. Butler says he would also cut back on consultants, relying more on local experts and using foreigners only as a last resort.

Much of Mr. Butler's social agenda revolves around pledges to help the working class, homeless, unemployed, seniors and handicapped.

But, beyond that, he realises many of his ideas wouldn't traditionally win backing from the party delegates who will choose Premier Ewart Brown's successor in two months.

The former principal would appoint a commission to determine which schools can be shut down; where classes are too small, children could be moved to nearby schools, with their parents given financial help for transport. That would free up vital facilities for youths, seniors and other social groups, he says.

He understands such a move could initially cause anger among the community, particularly after the fury at suggested closures early this year.

"There's always going to be a backlash but history will prove this was the right direction to go," he said.

Polls have consistently shown Mr. Butler to be one of Bermuda's best liked politicians, yet he openly states a large chunk of that support comes from outside the party he joined at the age of 16.

His suggestion of finding roles for United Bermuda Party stalwarts Grant Gibbons and John Barritt in his administration and his views on race relations are just some reasons non-PLPers might view him favourably.

"There's been a lot of beating up on [white] people, which is supposed to be discussion, but we have alienated people," said Mr. Butler.

"People are beginning to forget what really took place in this Country. Now we don't even hear from the young people we are allegedly fighting on behalf of."

Asked how he would develop race relations, he replied: "I'd appoint CURB [Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda] and Dr. [Eva] Hodgson, to get on with it."

Mr. Butler also confirmed he is a long-time supporter of protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation — although he was criticised for being in the bathroom when a push for that goal failed in the House of Assembly four years ago.

And while Dr. Brown's adversarial approach to the media increased his popularity in some PLP quarters, Mr. Butler says he would reverse Government's advertising ban on The Royal Gazette, provided the paper stops printing anonymous letters. He would also improve communications by partly funding meetings between the PLP and the media.

He also spoke briefly on his ideas for the two pillars of Bermuda's economy.

On tourism, he questions what advertising agency GlobalHue is actually doing for Bermuda with its multimillion dollar contract, and he would like to replace Dr. Brown's platinum period with what he believes is a more realistic bronze period.

He would put more emphasis on building a foundation, noting that progress on hotel developments is crucial if the Island is to attract more visitors.

And he joins Ms Cox and Mr. Lister in stressing the importance of good relations with international business.

"We have got to work closer with them as our friends," he said. "I think we have ruffled their feathers. They have got to feel they are most welcome in the Country."

l Read Mr. Butler's speech in full on Page 4.