Former British MP Gerry Bermingham is being tipped as a likely successor to Governor Thorold Masefield when he steps down later this year.

Sources close to the Governor's office said Mr. Bermingham had the right credentials as he has a strong legal background.

Thorold Masefield, who took up his post in June 1997, is to step down but his office was giving few clues about when this will be.

A statement given to The Royal Gazette yesterday said: "It will be later this year and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will officially put out an announcement in due course."

But one source said lawyer Mr.. Bermingham could fit the bill as Mr. Masefield's replacement.The source said: "The job entails a lot of legal stuff if you think about it." And with years of political experience he would also have the experience to deal with party leaders.Before entering the House of Commons in 1983, Mr.. Bermingham had practised as a solicitor for 16 years and he was called to the Bar in 1985.

Mr.. Bermingham, 61, stepped down from his seat at the last election and could be owed a favour by British Prime Minister Tony Blair after making way for Conservative defector Shaun Woodward to enter the House of Commons. But Mr. Bermingham said the reason for his retirement was that he wanted to spend more time with his two-year old son. He told Britain's The Mirror newspaper: "I have a little fella at home and if I did another term I would miss his childhood. My family has to come first." Asked about the possibility of the ex-MP landing the post which carries a salary of more than $146,000 a year, Government House Registrar Peter O'Brien said: "We have not been told about anybody, we have no information about who the new governor will be."