Premier Ewart Brown has warned colleagues to pull together and save any leadership challenges until after the election.

The blunt e-mailed statement has raised the spectacle of another post-poll regime change like the one which saw Jennifer Smith ousted hours after winning the 2003 election.

A statement sent to MPs, Senators and candidates on Dr. Brown's behalf to a secure group e-mail list said: "We have entered the next stage of the election war.

"I have been following the media accounts over the past few days and would like to urge you to remember that keeping the PLP in power is our most important objective.

"It is decidedly more important than the expressions of internal conflict.

"Some of you, who have as much or more experience in these things than I do, are now challenged to keep your eyes on the prize.

"I urge you to suppress your differences long enough for the Party to win the upcoming battle. Please try your best to avoid making public statements that weaken our collective effort.

"There will be plenty of time for you to attempt leadership changes AFTER the victory, but let's get the victory first!"

The PLP famously dumped leader Jennifer Smith hours after she took the party to its second general election victory in 2003 in a coup involving Dr. Brown who lost out to Alex Scott for the top job.

Mr. Scott was then ousted by Dr. Brown in a leadership challenge at the 2006 PLP delegates conference.

The next scheduled PLP leadership election is not until 2010 but an election can be sparked by branches or the central committee if there is sufficient support.

The e-mail warning comes after a torrid week for Dr. Brown whose Government lost its last ditch bid to gag the press in a costly court case in London.

That was followed by MP Renee Webb claiming the Premier's declining popularity could cost the party the election.

Then former PLP Senator and MP Trevor Woolridge called on Dr. Brown to resign because his loss of credibility was damaging the party and Country.

The unsigned message came from Ewart Brown's Government e-mail address although one PLP candidate told The Royal Gazette he wasn't convinced of it's authenticity as normally Dr. Brown signed his emails 'Ewart' or 'The Leader'.

However another recipient said: "Of course it's from him." and added that colleagues had taken the message seriously and some had responded with words of agreement.

One insider said PLP colleagues were waiting to see what else emerged now the media gag has been lifted which had prevented further revelations from the Police files into the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal which had shown Dr. Brown and other senior government figures had been investigated.

Dr. Brown has said he was exonerated by that Police probe.