A shadow minister who was the target of outspoken comments by a former One Bermuda Alliance deputy leader said yesterday that he will support whoever takes charge of the party.

Michael Fahy told The Royal Gazette that a number of people asked him to propose himself for the role of OBA leader, from which Jarion Richardson will step down on September 6, but that he “had not done so”.

His statement came after Leah Scott, who was deputy leader of the party from 2018 to 2020, claimed last week that Mr Fahy was “one of the most hated men in Bermuda” and posted on social media that he was “parachuted into [Constituency] 20”.

Mr Fahy, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Housing and Municipalities, said yesterday: “Leah’s comments are unfortunate and are not reflective of the truth.

“They may very well be defamatory. The word ‘hate’ was particularly disappointing.

“I am committed to the success of Bermuda for all Bermudians and have made that absolutely clear both in and out of Parliament.

“What has been heartwarming are the messages of support in direct opposition to the remarks by Ms Scott from the community at large and from a number of MPs on both sides of the House of Assembly.”

He added: “The ironic thing is that while I was asked by numerous people to put my name forward for leader of the OBA, I had not done so in any event.

“I will be very supportive of whoever is elected leader of the OBA on September 6.

“The OBA is bigger than one person or one person’s misguided statements.

“The OBA has performed very well in Parliament since the recent election and I am proud to be part of the new team.

“I look forward to continuing to add my voice as an elected parliamentarian to benefit all.”

Ms Scott served as MP for Southampton East Central from 2012 to 2020.

Her Facebook post said that Ben Smith, the OBA deputy leader and Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, should “hands down” succeed Mr Richardson as the leader of the party.

Ms Scott later told the Gazette that she believed there was a dislike of Mr Fahy because of immigration and the Pathways to Status proposal, which were under his remit as Minister of Home Affairs from 2012 to 2016.

Pathways proposed granting status and permanent residency to some long-term residents and was shelved after protests in 2016.

Ms Scott said: “I don’t hate Mr Fahy but it was a fact that what he did with Pathways did not sit well with Bermuda, and I don’t think the country has been able to rid itself from that since then.”

Mr Fahy stepped away from politics in 2017, but returned in January and was elected MP for Pembroke South West, viewed as an OBA safe seat, in February.

The Gazette tried to contact Mr Smith about whether he plans to run for Opposition leader but was unable to speak to him by press time.

The OBA declined to comment yesterday in response to Ms Scott’s remarks.