Government backbenchers have issued a blunt warning to Premier Jennifer Smith - stand down or you will cost us the election.

Wayne Perinchief said a leadership challenge was likely at the Progressive Labour Party's delegates conference in November and urged the Premier to resign or spark a damaging coup.

He warned potential challengers to start their campaigns now or suffer the fate of Arthur Hodgson, whose challenge by stealth failed two years ago.

Fellow Government MP, El James said: “I think at this point in time it's in the best interest she goes.”

He said the party needed to do whatever was necessary to win the election and to examine whether it could under the present leadership.

“Things change, we have to have the courage to change it. I think a lot of people feel the leadership needs to be changed, including some of our diehard supporters.

“We need to take a hard look at ourselves, including our present leader.”

Earlier this week Mr. Hodgson hinted he would challenge again, but he refused to comment on the latest developments last night.

Mr. Perinchief said he was unaware if Mr. Hodgson would stand. He said: “If he is indicating he is going to challenge he should do it unequivocally and lobby.

“He should start now if he wants to win the hearts and minds of the delegates.”

He added: “I expect a challenge at the delegates conference but I don't know from who.”

He said the Premier had blown her chance to build bridges with her unhappy back bench after a bid to oust her in May ended in deadlock, with MPs split nine-to-nine on a call for her to resign.

Mr. Perinchief said: “Most of us expected some sort of positive reaction from the Premier. Either to challenge our position heavily or come forward with some sort of alternative soul searching.

“Nothing much changed. It left some of us very despondent. It's really not good enough.”

Asked what was wrong with the Premier's leadership Mr. Perinchief said: “I can't diagnose what the cause is, I can only say what the effect is.

“We don't get a lot of advance notice about things. Some of us are a bit upset. We don't see an agenda. Directives come up. We don't like getting blindsided by pronouncements on issues like Caricom.”

He said recent pronouncements by Dame Lois Browne-Evans - that only Jennifer Smith was capable of leading the party - were also offensive.

He said the back bench had been split during the 2000 vote in which Ms Smith easily beat Arthur Hodgson, who only announced his challenge on the floor of the delegates conference.

“Now the back bench is solidly against her, apart from one or two, and there is some support for her in Cabinet.”

He said if Ms Smith clung on to power again it was not the end of the story because although the party delegates might endorse her as leader, the party's MP's could still remove her as Premier.

Bermuda's constitution, he noted, gives the Governor power to appoint a Premier who commanded the support of the majority of MPs.

He said: “If the parliamentarians want to change the Premier they can do it. Some delegates might have the misconception that if they select the party leader that person automatically becomes the Premier. That's not so.

“That's where Arthur Hodgson failed. If he had appealed to the parliamentary party last time you would see him now as Premier.

“You could have her remain as party leader and have Arthur Hodgson as Premier or vice versa.”

“If the parliamentarians feel they can win with the present Premier they will keep her, but if they feel uncomfortable, that they can't win with her, they could change her in the interests of the party and the country.”

Feedback from constituents had also shown there was a clear mood for change said Mr. Perinchief.

He said: “I know what people are telling me from all walks of life and they definitely want a change in the leadership - and the leadership is not just her.

“Some people don't seem to be quite comfortable with the autocratic style of Colonel Burch, who is not elected. He is powerful beyond his position. His power is not mandated by the people.”

He said a new leader was needed to take Bermuda to another level on fundamental issues such as housing, drugs and taxation.

He said Cabinet Ministers Dr. Ewart Brown, Alex Scott and Paula Cox had all shown promise.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown had been high profile and effective said Mr. Perinchief and was providing the type of leadership people wanted to see by being open but, he stressed, he was not backing Dr. Brown in particular.

Fellow backbencher Dale Butler said he hoped there wouldn't be a further leadership challenge and said he wasn't standing, but he said he was serious when he added: “I am the only man for the job and they will be begging and screaming for me to lead.”

Mr. James would not be drawn on the failures of Ms Smith. “I won't pick at sores.”

He said she had done a lot of positive things but there came a time when any leader had to stand down.

He said there had been no behind-the-scenes campaigning but said the party had plenty of potential leaders.