Wayne Furbert?s election as Leader of the United Bermuda Party is likely to shift the political landscape.

This carefully orchestrated leadership change gives the UBP some momentum and draws attention to the party and away from the Progressive Labour Party, which as the Government can always gain publicity because it is in position to do things when an Opposition cannot.

But a leadership change gives any Opposition the chance to get attention as it rolls out new Shadow Cabinets, modifies or changes policy positions and is able to be seen as an agent for change.

Mr. Furbert has already taken some steps in that direction by promising ?a new political dynamic? and a less confrontational approach to party politics.

That will be welcomed by many undecided voters, who seem to be heartily sick of the ?he said- she said? nature of politics in Bermuda.

Mr. Furbert has said he wants to move Bermuda away from the tradition of race-based politics, and that again will be welcome.

At the same time, the UBP?s election of a black Bermudian to lead it will tend to defuse the perception that it is a white-dominated party with a sprinkling of black politicians.

That this does not reflect the reality of the UBP is neither here nor there. The mere fact that a black man is leading the party helps to put it to bed.

More importantly, as mentioned yesterday, Mr. Furbert?s ability to appeal to both races, and his background as a successful small businessman removes the notion that the UBP is a party of Front Street or what remains of the white establishment.

Like it or not, the PLP will almost certainly draw support from the predominantly black working class while the UBP is unlikely to lose white support, at least as long as the PLP insists on pulling the race card out at elections.

Mr. Furbert?s success or failure will depend on whether he can attract support from the black middle class which has traditionally been the swing vote. The UBP drew enough support from this grouping to stay in power for 30 years and the PLP has held enough of it to win two consecutive elections. Barring a sea change in this electoral equation, it is there that the next General Election will be won or lost.

Mr. Furbert, as noted, is not the most sparkling or eloquent speaker. But Government and Opposition politicians have noted that he is sincere in his beliefs and this may be his greatest strength.

A lifelong supporter of the UBP and its principles, this sincerity compares favourably to the Government, whose record is littered with instances of double talk and flat out lies.

That may turn out to be Mr. Furbert?s best weapon, especially on confrontations with Premier Alex Scott.

Yesterday, the PLP responded to the UBP?s leadership change by saying that it was trying to become the mirror image of the PLP and that it had driven a second UBP leader out of office, Dame Pamela Gordon being the first.

That?s not surprising, and if Mr. Furbert wants to reduce confrontation, he faces the difficult challenge of still differentiating the PLP. But it also shows that the PLP, in claiming that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, can no longer rely on its old rhetoric.

It too must show how it differs from the UBP, and it will be harder for it to use race to do so.