With the motto ‘The Milkman Delivers’, MP and dairy owner Michael Dunkley was unveiled as the new leader of the United Bermuda Party yesterday.

Promising no major policy shifts Mr. Dunkley said the party would be about graft and team work.

Mr. Dunkley was elected unopposed on Monday night along with shadow finance minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin who became deputy leader.

He emphasised he would operate as a unit with his number two. More detailed policy statements will follow when she returns to the island.

Mr. Dunkley paid tribute to outgoing leader Wayne Furbert who finally stepped down on Thursday after weeks of wrangling. Mr. Dunkley said: “Leadership changes can be messy, difficult affairs, so I want to take a moment to recognise the dignity with which Wayne stepped down and the fact that his parting words were about meeting the needs of the people.

“It stands as the measure of the man, so I salute Wayne and I look forward to working with him for better government.”

He also hoped Maxwell Burgess would rethink his pledge to stand down at the forthcoming election.

“He has the political acumen we need on board. I will do everything I can to try to get Maxwell to remain with the team.”

Mr. Dunkley, who has been in parliament for ten years and who unearthed the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal, promised his party would work hard and listen to the people.

“We are going to give them a government they can trust. We are going to give them a government that delivers. “My personal political motto is ‘the milkman delivers’. It says something about my family and something about my approach to public service. I’m proud of that motto and I take real pride in living up to it.

“In the weeks ahead, people will try to tear down what I say here today and they will try to characterise me as something I am not. This past weekend I heard that I was going to take the party to the right. Someone even said I was aristocratic. That made me laugh. Whatever you hear about me, remember this: I’m the milkman. My great grandfather was a dirt farmer. I was raised to work hard and I have done so all my life. We built up a business and it has been successful.”

Mr. Dunkley said he was very open to ideas but was also very focused on things that work. “I can be impatient but only with people who do not make decisions to get things done. All I ask is that people give me a chance and give our team a chance.”

He said people would question whether a white person can lead Bermuda. “But I don’t think it’s about race. I don’t believe good government comes with a particular colour attached. “I believe good government is about results. I believe it’s about effectiveness.”

He said the United Bermuda Party is committed to advancing the interests of ordinary Bermudians. “We are going to meet their needs whether they be fairness in the work place, affordable housing or safer streets. If you need help, it will not matter whether you are black, white or green, you can count on us to be there for you.”

But he said the PLP had failed to deliver in Government. “It makes no difference whether you’re talking about education, public safety, housing, seniors, the environment or economic empowerment — this government has not met the needs of the people.”

He said Premier Ewart Brown had tried hard to separate himself from his party’s record in power.

“But the longer he continues the clearer it is that he is part of the same exhausted group with no fresh ideas, no plan and apparently no direction.”

But Mr. Dunkley said his own style was different. “I am a guy who likes to roll up his sleeves and get it on.”