A grassroots campaign to draft former Premier Sir John Swan back into active politics is causing little concern to the United Bermuda Party (UBP) hierarchy.

Party chairman Wayne Furbert said that the caucus is solidly behind current leader Grant Gibbons, adding that if there are any members supporting the campaign led by Toppy Cowen, they are a minority.

The party is also relying on Sir John's own comments, in a story in The Royal Gazette this week, that he will not be coming back and considers that the end of the story.

"What we clearly heard from Sir John is he said a comeback is not an option and we have to take him at his word - he is a man of his word," said Mr. Furbert.

At the party's caucus meeting on Tuesday there was "no dissension" at all when the leadership question came up, he said.

"The caucus fully supports Grant Gibbons as the leader who will take us forward into the next election."

When asked, he said that the Swan campaign was not high on the agenda of the weekly meeting.

This week Mr. Cowen reported that he was leading a growing movement among party supporters to draft Sir John to run for a seat in the House of Assembly and then take over the party leadership from Grant Gibbons.

Mr. Cowen and his supporters believe that Sir John as leader would be instrumental in helping the party win back the Government.

He said his canvassing of the membership had turned up hundreds of people who supported the effort.

But the party organisation is of the view that the figure is grossly exaggerated.

"I don't believe that's true at all," Mr. Furbert said. "People love Sir John, no doubt. That's nothing new. The question is Sir John said he's not coming back and our leader is Grant Gibbons."

And when asked whether any John Swan supporters had approached him, he said: "I can't answer that question."

Mr. Furbert reminded The Royal Gazette that the party leader could only be changed by the parliamentary caucus which would choose from among its members.

"The caucus has said they fully support Grant Gibbons," Mr. Furbert said.

He denied reports that recent polls conducted by the party had asked respondents whether they preferred Sir John or Dr. Gibbons as leader.

Mr. Furbert declined to comment when asked if he felt that the pro Swan members were being disloyal to the party.

And he said comments that the party was suffering from a leadership crisis were "fabricated".

"We don't have a leadership crisis - (Premier) Jennifer Smith does. We have a lot of leadership material, plenty of it and more to come."