Former Premier Alex Scott says his party was right to dump him in favour of Ewart Brown, but he has repeated his warning that a slim majority could lead to another leadership change.

Mr. Scott, ousted just over a year ago, said unease with Dr. Brown's leadership style was an issue on the doorstep but he urged Progressive Labour Party supporters to stay loyal in the coming election.

Mr. Scott said people had been supportive of his stance, which was branded "bizarre" by colleague Renee Webb at the weekend.

Mr. Scott said: "I wasn't saying anything earthshattering – the Premier himself made that observation – support the party and if there was disatisfaction afterwards he was prepared to open the party to review. It was not an anti-Premier statement."

He said stay-at-homes could be handing power to the Opposition.

Mr. Scott said he had gone public after a newspaper approached saying they had letters from disaffected party voters who would have supported the party under his leadership but not now power had switched to Dr. Brown.

Mr. Scott said: "I am a senior member, I have nothing to lose. I am not campaigning for office or to get into Cabinet so I can speak out."

Mr. Scott had urged anti-Brown PLP supporters to still vote party and said if the election was tight a change in leadership could occur.

Asked how this made sense given that if they all did that, the Premier would likely win a comfortable mandate and would presumably be safe in his job Mr. Scott said: "That's democracy. It would mean they would just be joining together with others to have ratified his leadership and policies.

"Now is the time to support the party. It's an evolution.

"The party had to go through the step of having a change of leadership to a Ewart Brown. If Alex Scott had won at the last AGM, folks would not have been satisfied.

"There would have been many who would have said: 'You see, we haven't changed. We are not growing.' Now they can see the difference in leadership approach and there are many who are satisfied."

Asked why the PLP campaign was focusing on the leader if he was a vote loser Mr. Scott said: "It's a matter of style – I think you are correct in how you observe this election being handled. But it is the leader's call.

"But I guess that is what attracts people to the leader – the charisma and confidence he has but in other cases they feel uncomfortable with the approach. There's the divide and difference."

Asked if the PLP would be credible with another leadership change in the immediate aftermath of a general election Mr. Scott said: "The happiest and healthiest way forward is for us to continue with the Premier – for continuity.

"In nine years we have had three leaders.

"But the nature of politics is any leader – and I am not just speaking about Premier Brown – who has a close call can anticipate and sometimes volunteers a review to make sure he has a mandate.

"So don't back off of the party because you feel uncomfortable or you are not totally satisfied. You could be proved to be right.

"If you are one of those amongst many who feel uncomfortable with the leadership, there will most probably be a review because there will most probably then have been a close election."

But a landslide would mean no need for a review.

"If the Premier wins 30 seats I guess I will be required to carry him on my shoulders to Government House, meaning that would really have demonstrated the universality of his support and his success."

Following the defection of Jamahl Simmons the PLP now has a ten seat lead – holding 23 to the UBP's 13.

Mr. Scott said a 20-16 majority was beginning to get close to the danger zone for Dr. Brown.

"I am not saying that warrants a wholesale house cleaning but I wouldn't want it any closer.

"But I don't feel dissaffection to the extent that I lay awake at night worrying."

Asked about how constant change affected governance, Mr. Scott said: "A conversation I had with one minister was that it would have been nice for him to have spent at least five years at education. You want someone to go in, get the feel of it and not have too many changes."

He said the reason it was healthy for Brown to have taken his job was because he was continually launching challenges.

"He challenged Dame Jennifer and then myself. It was for the health of the party that we get that issue resolved that is do we continually have the party experiencing challenge after challnge because folks wanted to see a Brown administration.

"Well, now they have had a Brown administration and folks have been able to see it and make a judgement."

He said the doubters were hung up on personality rather than policies.

PLP backbencher Ashfield DeVent said: "This constant change of leadership has not been good for us in the long run. And to continue to do that? That's up to the delegates. Constant leadership change means constant Cabinet shuffles – there's no continuity.

"In eight years we have had quite a number of changes in leadership and Cabinet. Ministers need a fair time to get their policies up and running."

Mr. DeVent said he was surprised by Mr. Scott's comments in the middle of an election and said he should have made them in private.

He urged people to remember Dr. Brown was just the captain of the team and the PLP team was much better than the UBP's in terms of quality and experience.

But he conceded there was unhappiness among his own constituents about the leadership.

"The focus from both the media and Opposition has been soley and wholly on Dr. Brown. That's why when I canvass I tell people to compare both teams."

But he admitted the PLP campaign had also pushed Dr. Brown to the fore.

"I wouldn't have minded seeing more focus on the team."

He said there were concerns about Dr. Brown's leadership from voters who had troubled explaining what bothered them.

Asked if the PLP would do better under a different leader he said: "It's too late in the election."

One long-standing PLP supporter said voters were complaining about the lack of transparency and accountability of the Premier who seemed to be be getting a free ride from his own colleagues.

"Look at the PLP adverts – it's as if he's the only man, there is no one else – people are fed up."