Progressive Labour Party MPs have had plenty to say about their leader since he brought four former Guantánamo Bay detainees to Bermuda without telling anyone except Immigration Minister David Burch; and then appeared to try and pass the controversial cruise ship gaming bill behind the backs of his party colleagues.

Here are some of their public comments:

Friday June 12: Deputy Premier Paula Cox is among a string of MPs to speak about the Uighur move in the House of Assembly — some in support, others against. Ms Cox tells the House she feels "politically neutered", adding: "There are very significant ramifications if this goes awry."

Rebel backbencher Randy Horton says he doesn't agree with the Premier's method: "In an effort to get things done quickly, he's over stepped his boundaries."

Fellow rebel Wayne Perinchief: "It does boggle the mind that a Premier in a position of leadership, a Premier that has touted openness, who reportedly prescribes to transparency ... a person who I have described as dictatorial and divisive, should act in exactly the same manner and with the same behaviour on which I accuse him of conducting his leadership."

Derrick Burgess, Minister of Works and Engineering: "I support what the Premier has done in the name of humanity."

Energy Minister Terry Lister says Bermuda had far more to worry about, such as crime and youth violence: "These are the issues that really matter."

Junior Justice Minister Michael Scott: "We have won the thanks of the Obama administration and this could pay out dividends."

Backbencher Ashfield DeVent: "I am not in favour of this decision and how it was done. I am very concerned with us moving towards not actually following rules."

Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith: "I think everyone knows my position on the end not justifying the means. My constituents have expressed their concern."

Friday June 19/Saturday June 20: The Premier's Government survives a vote of no confidence — but not before many more fiery comments in a marathon 14-hour debate. Immediately after the vote, Culture Minister Dale Butler resigns, saying the Premier's closing speech is "not unifying".

Mr. Butler: "As a Minister I am very disappointed I was not consulted. I was absolutely stunned — I think we all were — when we were not informed. The Premier should apologise to the House, his Cabinet, and the people of Bermuda."

Former Premier Alex Scott: "We can't take another hit like this. We really can't because I don't think we have felt the feel of it yet."

Mr. Burgess describes it as a Good Samaritan act: "That's what good people do. That's what this Government does. We do good things."

Mr. Perinchief: "As a team we have to pull back and exert some control over our team captain."

Backbencher Zane DeSilva: "How dare the UBP try and tell us how to choose our Premier?"

Mr. Horton: "Our Honourable Premier has not been check enough. I don't think we've held him accountable enough."

Dame Jennifer: "I certainly would like some assurance or acknowledgement of the importance of the need to follow the rules."

Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney: "I think Minister Burch and our honourable Premier did what they thought was in the best interest of the country. It may be wrong but it was the noble interest."

Veteran backbencher Walter Lister: "We talked a lot about dictators today or through the last week,« he said. »If one man is a dictator, he is not in this House."

Soon-to-be Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield: "This has been a huge pill to swallow. It's been reflected on the street; it's been reflected in our young people."

Michael Scott: "By and large this appears to be a one-off action by this particular Premier on this particular front."

Terry Lister praises the Premier's skills as Tourism Minister: "The Minister of Tourism has a strategy. If you look hard enough you will see it is actually there and it works."

Ms Cox says any leadership challenge should be made through conventional methods: "This is not the time or the place to have a lynching of the party leader."

Thursday, July 9: Under instruction from Dr. Brown, Government Whip Lovitta Foggo announces to the United Bermuda Party, backbenchers and the media that the cruise ship gaming bill will be put on the back burner until November at the earliest.

Friday morning, July 10: In the absence of many of his opponents, Dr. Brown announces a vote on his gaming bill will take place immediately. United Bermuda Party MPs and rebel backbenchers dash into the room to ensure the bill fails by 18 votes to 11.

Friday evening, July 10/Saturday morning Jul 11: Terry Lister, Education Minister Elvin James, Mr. Horton and Mr. Perinchief call for Dr. Brown to resign. Other MPs speak out in The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Lister: "He is actually a very confident man, confident to a fault, but often very divisive. Very divisive. This member has no respect for this House... Now is the time to go. The time to go."

Mr. James: "I do believe the Premier needs to read the handwriting on the wall. Maybe the time has come to pick the party over himself."

Mr. Horton: "I don't think there's a soul in the House right now who can say they trust the Premier right now. It's time for the Honourable Premier to resign."

Mr. Perinchief: "I have been a very strident and conscious critic of the leadership shown this entire term. What happened today is consistent with what has happened with other matters in this House."

Alex Scott: "I stop short of saying the House was misled, but I will say that the House was subject to an apparent legislative manoeuvre."

Mr. DeVent: "The process was abused. I'm sick and tired of people breaking the process."

Sunday, July 12: Dr. Brown announces Mr. Lister and Mr. James will no longer serve in his Cabinet.

What the Goverment MPs have said

The Royal Gazette approached each Progressive Labour Party MP to ask whether they support the Premier in the wake of Ministerial and backbench calls for him to quit as leader of the Party.

Here are their responses to us, or other public comments.

Nelson Bascome: to The Royal Gazette last night: "I am on official vacation, and off island. Will evaluate on my return."

Glenn Blakeney: Did not reply to a request for comment by press time.

Derrick Burgess: to The Royal Gazette last night: "I do not speak to The Royal Gazette."

Dale Butler: Did not reply to a request for comment by press time.

Neletha Butterfield e-mailed The Royal Gazette last night stating she was busy at a conference in Guyana and declined to comment.

Paula Cox to The Royal Gazette last night: "We will operate within the political machinery to act in the national interest and to foster continued political stability."

Zane DeSilva: Declined to comment

Ashfield DeVent: to The Royal Gazette on Friday: "I'm sick and tired of people breaking the process."

Lovitta Foggo: Declined to comment.

Randy Horton: to the House on Friday: "It's time for the Honourable Premier to resign."

Elvin James to the House on Friday: "Dr. Brown has done a lot of great things and I know him as a good friend, but he has to read the writing on the wall and step down and put party over self."

Dennis Lister to The Royal Gazette on Friday: "The policies of our party will lead us forward."

Terry Lister to the House on Friday: "This member has no respect for this House... Now is the time to go."

Walter Lister: Did not reply to a request for comment by press time.

Patrice Minors: "What is more significant is whether the branches still support the Premier. The next step should be respecting the Constitution."

Wayne Perinchief to the House on Friday: "Enough is enough."

Walter Roban: Did not reply to a request for comment by press time.

Michael Scott: Did not reply to a request for comment by press time.

Alex Scott to The Royal Gazette on Friday: "The House was caught totally, totally unaware of the initiative that the Premier took."

Dame Jennifer Smith: Declined to comment.