Michael Dunkley will not defect to the Bermuda Democratic Alliance — despite his concerns about the leadership of the United Bermuda Party and his "disappointment and hurt" at being demoted.

Senator Dunkley told The Royal Gazette last night there was "no truth whatsoever" to claims he was considering a move to the BDA after being replaced by Jeanne Atherden as Opposition Senate Leader.

Sources from the senator's own party told this newspaper last week that BDA representatives had held discussions with senior UBP figures and that he was the most likely to make the switch.

But the Shadow National Security Minister said: "I have no idea where the speculation came from. One of the reasons why I didn't respond to it was because it came from anonymous sources and I have no intention of replying to speculation that is way off-base.

"The BDA has never really invited me to join their party. I'm good friends with a lot of their guys and I support some of their philosophies but they have never come to me and said: 'Come on Dunks, come join us'."

He claimed after the story ran He claimed after the story ran he was approached by a Progressive Labour Party member, whom he would not name, about joining the PLP.

"I'm sure they were sent by someone else," he said. "They said if I was considering making a move, I should consider them. I'm very flattered by the approach but it's never going to happen. A lot of things that the PLP stand for, I can support, but there are a lot of things I just can't support at this time."

Sen Dunkley said he had "no plans, none whatsoever" to leave the UBP and join the BDA. "The BDA have tried to say that they have got a new way and all that type of stuff.

"It's been a breath of fresh air to some extent. Unfortunately, they are having a hard time getting traction."

But he admitted he was unhappy with some recent decisions made by UBP leader Kim Swan, including his demotion.

"But do I put all that on the street? People would know that you would be disappointed by that. The leader knows that. I was disappointed. I was hurt by it. Life goes on.

"It's not about the positions you hold, it's about the service that you do. You pick it up and you do what you have got to do. Out of every setback, there is a way you can jump forward."

Sen Dunkley — who was UBP leader from April 2007 until his general election defeat in Smith's North in December that year — said he hoped to bring about change within his party, rather than walk away.

"I think everybody understands the UBP has challenges. We have challenges in the leadership of the party. We have challenges in being an Opposition that people think could be a government going forward."

Asked to elaborate on the "leadership challenges", he said: "That's just my opinion. If you look at the political polling, I don't think anybody can argue [with] that. That's not a criticism of Kim Swan, that's just a reality."

He said though the party could do a lot of good in the House of Assembly and Upper Chamber, it was "not appealing to enough people".

"It has to come down to members and it has to come down to leaders," he said. "If you are not being effective, you have to take a difficult look at yourself."

Sen Dunkley — who until this month held the shadow portfolios for Immigration, Labour, Public Safety and Tourism — suggested he may have been sidelined in the Senate because he was doing his job too well.

"Maybe to some extent there were people in the party that thought I was threatening them because I was being too effective on things.

"I know since that happened and people got wind of it I was besieged with support from people, people saying: 'I have got your back'. That was gratifying."

He added he was not the kind of person to quit the party in a fit of pique over his demotion and that his family had taken the news harder than him.

"I can get as disappointed as the next person. I take a great deal of pride in everything I do. I put passion and energy in everything I do. I take things seriously but I'm not the type of person to make quick, rash decisions on anything.

"The biggest thing for me is how it has impacted my family. When things like that happen, they take that personally. That's what bothers me, just as much as the disappointment of what's happened."

Mr Swan did not respond to a request for comment last night. The PLP said it had no comment.