The Mid-Ocean News story on a possible pre-election succession plan for Premier Jennifer Smith has been branded as "highly speculative mischief making" by Progressive Labour Party supporters.

Reaction to the story - which quoted unnamed sources as saying that the Premier would likely hand over the reins of office to backbencher Reginald Burrows because of concern over her poll ratings - was a mixture of derision and bewilderment among party faithful.

"I think you would expect to see a lot of that," said Rolfe Commissiong, who has been a vocal critic of his party's leadership.

Mr. Commissiong believes the story, which quoted a "Government insider", a "source close to Government " and a "UBP insider", as a spin job masterminded by the Opposition United Bermuda Party.

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons denied any knowledge of the story, saying: "I can tell you that to the best to my knowledge the United Bermuda Party had nothing to do with it.

"I saw it Friday like everybody else. We are focused on what we need to do right now, not on the internal arguments of the PLP."

Mr. Commissiong said the suggestion that Ms Smith would resign was the "outrageous part of the story",

"She'll never resign," he said.

And he could not possibly see the party talking about a changeover before the elections. "We've got enough problems already. There's no one now trying to get rid of Jennifer."

Mr. Commissiong said that much of the information in the story had been reworked from last year's stories about a challenge to Premier Smith's leadership by a group of rebel MPs.

Mr. Burrows' name surfaced then as a possible alternative to Ms Smith. "They've used that and sort of reworked it a little bit."

Party spokesman Glen Blakeney questioned why the story did not carry a byline, as is the norm for most newspaper stories.

"That was the ultimate hypocrisy and the epitome of journalistic cowardice.

"I think that Mr. Burrows' comment speaks more than adequately and just confirms that the Mid Ocean News sunk to the depth of sensationalism and epitomises gutter journalism," he said.

Mr. Burrows denied any plans to run for Premier earlier this week.

But Mr. Blakeney would not go as far as to say it was a UBP inspired job.

"I'm not going to contradict my sentiments with regard to speculation as far as the UBP strategy is concerned.

"I'm not going to speak to it without there being any evidence that they are behind such speculation.

"The PLP is going to fight a fair fight and we are not going to engage in any disingenuous dirty fighting."