Bob Richards and John Barritt have emerged as front runners to take over as United Bermuda Party leader after a number of possible candidates have ruled themselves out.

Mr. Richards is favourite as it's thought he wants the job although colleagues are concerned he turned a safe UBP seat into a marginal when he won Devonshire East by just 22 votes after predecessor Michael Dunkley had got a majority of 214 in the previous election.

The UBP crashed to its third straight election defeat last month. It lost two seats and gained two seats leaving it with the same net total of 14 compared to the Progressive Labour Party's 22 seats.

The Opposition also saw its share of the popular vote fall slightly to 47 percent of the vote while its leader Michael Dunkley lost his risky bid to turf Patrice Minors out of Smith's North.

So far former leader Wayne Furbert has ruled himself out for the leader's job as has party chairman Shawn Crockwell and acting leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin.

One UBP source said: "I think it will be Bob Richards, I think that's the way people are leaning. John Barritt has never stated he was in a position to take the leadership. I think it will end up with Bob but anything can happen."

Asked about Mr. Richard's record in Devonshire East the source said: "Unfortunately the choice is limited right now. There's an argument against each option.

"Would it be wise to have a white leader after what's happened in the recent election? We don't have the ideal options."

And on Mr. Richards the insider said: "Does he have national appeal? Based on performance in elections it doesn't appear as if he does but based on a natural process of elimination our options are limited."

Mr. Richards could not be reached for comment last night and its thought a decision will be taken when everyone is back from holiday and before Parliament resumes at the start of next month.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin has indicated she is not willing to carry on as acting leader indefinitely and said the party's constitution and that of the nation required someone was chosen for the role.

Some political pundits are questioning whether the UBP will ever win back power but party founder and former MP Kit Astwood said it would be wrong for the party to fold.

He said: "The UBP cannot even think about ditching the 15,000 people who voted for it and leaving them leaderless and without representation in Parliament."

Mr. Astwood said it was possible for the party to win back power if its candidates put in enough work in their communities.

Most United Bermuda Party MPs contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday refused to comment about the leadership contest yesterday.

However Party Chairman Shawn Crockwell said: "It will be decided within the next two weeks. There are on-going discussions. We definitely want it resolved before February 1."