The United Bermuda Party has launched a fund-raising drive to boost coffers after last year's expensive election campaign.

Now the UBP is taking membership drives out of the hands of the branches and putting them into the hands of party chiefs.

The new structure gives six levels of membership from ordinary member contributing $5 to patrons chipping in $2,500. The other tiers are set at $25, $100, $500 and $1,000.

Party chairman Michael Fahy said the UBP had centralized fund-raising efforts primarily to avoid unnecessary duplication.

"In the past we have had people approached for donations from our central headquarters and branches and we want to avoid that," he said.

He added the party still had debt outstanding from the election and part of the drive was to eliminate it.

"This is par for the course for any party following an election. The numbers are quite manageable and we are moving with deliberate speed to meet these obligations.

"The party's membership has held steady and the aim of this particular drive is to attract new members and to give others a chance to renew their membership."