The pundits predicted a tight race but Ewart Brown blew away Premier Alex Scott in the Progressive Labour Party leadership election last night.

Dr. Brown beat Mr Scott by 107 votes to 76 in a night of high drama at Devonshire Rec which saw Paula Cox become Deputy Leader after challenger Randy Horton conceded with her well ahead. Within minutes of Dr. Brown?s win, Alex Scott made his way to his Government car to be sped away from the scene of defeat. Dr. Brown will be sworn in by the Governor this morning.

Last night he said his Government would be more assertive on crucial issues such as poverty and child care and pledged not to allow too much time to elapse ??between the time we discuss it and the time we implement??.

Asked if he would adopt an autocratic style he said: ?You will be tired of the public access and the public discussion we will generate.?

But he added: ?Sometimes I do have to do things quickly because Government by nature is slow so I have to take decisions that are not vetted fully.

?Sometimes you just have to do that. Leaders have to make decisions.

?But I have no concern whatsoever about the openness of our Government. And the willingness to put the issues on the table.?

Dr. Brown who had spent the past two weeks trying to meet every single delegate romped home to a convincing win after a powerful speech plugging core values.

He said: ?Our people care about sustainable development but they are more concerned about child care and child development. Our people do not just want empowerment zones. They want empowerment.

?They listened to the independence Commission but they want a leader strategic enough, courageous enough, connected enough and yes stubborn enough to move them towards independence.?

He promised Deputy Premier Ms Cox would not be marginalized, despite the fact that his camp had put forward their own challenger Randy Horton.

?She would have as full a role as she desires.

?We have been meeting together since 1998 ? that?s quite a few Tuesdays.

?So we have gotten to known each other well and the to and fro we experience in Cabinet only benefits the country.

?So, if anyone is looking for differences or disagreements that will cause dislocations you will probably be disappointed.?

And Ms. Cox could soon be very busy with Dr. Brown considering taking back the Tourism portfolio he resigned to fight the election.

?I?m thinking about it but I have not made a final decision on it yet.?

He said no decisions will be made yet on the shape of his Cabinet until Monday.

But last night Senator David Burch, who holds the Tourism, Works and Engineering and Housing Ministries, said: ?Tomorrow I expect to be packing in my office so there is a clean path for whoever is going to succeed me.

?This is democracy. This is being in a political party. There is no animosity or angst.?

Mr. Scott too was putting a brave face on it has he left, saying: ?The delegates have spoken and it?s most important now that the party unites behind the new party leader. Let me be the first to say ?Premier Ewart Brown!??

Asked how he felt, he replied: ?A little tired but we gave it all our best.?

Asked how his speech to delegates went, Mr. Scott said: ?Not far enough.?