Veteran politician Lois Browne Evans is tipped to become the first political Attorney General in Bermuda.

And an announcement on the new position could be made by Premier Jennifer Smith by the end of the month.

Insiders yesterday tipped the lawyer and PLP Legislative Affairs Minister as front runner for the new-style post.

One said: "The word is it's Lois -- that's definitely the word on the streets.'' The news came as the first steps towards the creation of a political Attorney General have been taken by Government.

For legislation tabled in the House of Assembly aims to give legal powers currently reserved for the Attorney General to a non-political, English-style Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mrs. Browne Evans -- the grande dame of Bermudian politics -- would appear to be first choice for the AG's job, if she wanted it at this stage of her career.

And her role in Legislative Affairs could be folded into her new job as the top Government law officer.

Insiders said the field -- required to be qualified barristers -- was thin.

The only possibles were Mrs. Browne Evans, ex-Magistrate Arthur Hodgson, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox and Sen. Michael Scott.

But the insider speculated that Sen. Scott -- a young lawyer -- would be unlikely to quit private practice for the AG's job.

Mr. Hodgson, however, as an ex-Magistrate, has no practice and could be more willing to take on the post.

But Ms Cox is probably reckoned to be too valuable in her high profile Ministry to move her elsewhere.

Browne Evans tipped for AG The insider said: "That really only leaves Lois and Arthur -- if she doesn't want it, then it would go to Arthur.'' Premier Jennifer Smith could not be contacted for comment.

Mrs. Browne Evans said that no decision will be taken until the Premier and Governor Thorold Masefield agree to change the role of the AG.

Last month, Mrs. Browne Evans confirmed the new AG's role would follow the English model and the appointee would come from the Legislature.

She confirmed she would be "reluctant'' to take on the job -- but left the door open to offers.

The PLP battler said: "I was never anxious to be anything -- but I would do anything I was asked to do.'' Principal Crown counsel Khamisi Tokunbo has already been tipped for the DPP's job -- a necessary step if the AG's job becomes political. An independent criminal prosecutor would be needed to carry out the court work currently handled by the AG to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

The DPP legislation is likely to come before the House for debate in the next week or so. But it is unlikely to be gazetted until an AG and a DPP are in place -- although it is understood even if the law was passed without a DPP being in place, whoever was acting as Attorney General could stand in.