Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards today confirmed he plans to take over the leadership of the United Bermuda Party from Kim Swan as soon as possible.

Mr. Richards told The Royal Gazette he has put together a plan he believes can bring the ailing party back from its lowest ebb — and that one of the necessary steps is a change in leader.

“When a team is on a losing streak, they change the manager, they change the coach — they change the leader,” Mr. Richards said this afternoon.

“Changing a leader is a signal that reform is on the way.”

Mr. Richards said he believes he has support from the UBP’s remaining MPs, but a leadership challenge will have to wait until the party’s constitution is amended to allow branch members a say in who leads the party.

It is unlikely to happen before the next parliamentary session begins in early November, due to the slowness of the process involved.

If successful in his bid to replace Mr. Swan, Mr. Richards said he would seek to welcome back the MPs who have defected in recent weeks leaving the party with just nine members in the House of Assembly.

For the full story and more details on Mr. Richards’ proposal for the future of the UBP, read tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.