If Kim Swan felt the pressure of delivering his maiden House speech at one of the most important setpiece events of the parliamentary year he certainly wasn't showing it.

He arrived with a spring in his step and delivered a virtually flawless Throne Speech which attempted to reclaim his party's legacy which UBP stalwarts have argued has too long been trashed by a re-writing of history by the PLP.

Mr. Swan paid tribute to UBP great and mentor Dr. Stanley Ratteray who had fought the good fight as a leader of the Progressive Group which had started the Theatre Boycott.

Stressing that his party was there to offer support and not just criticise, Mr. Swan even paid homage to the PLP in its days in Opposition for prodding his party to reform.

But he was determined to let the country know that the UBP was not the elitist stereotype portrayed by its detractors as he pointed out the UBP's 30-year record which included desegregating public schools, building Bermuda College, prohibiting discrimination on race, ethnicity and gender and establishing the Human Rights Commission and CURE.

Mr. Swan pointed out it was the UBP which had created the Hospital Insurance Plan with special benefits for seniors, children and the indigent, and introduced workmen's compensation, social insurance and the national pension scheme.

And it was the UBP which had established the Bermuda Housing Corporation and built hundreds of affordable housing units across the Island while developing Bermuda into one of the most successful tourism destinations in the world and created the framework for international business. The speech made it clear that Mr. Swan, while defending the UBP's record on social issues, will be also be questioning the PLP's lack of action in the same area as he appealed for more consideration of Bermudians struggling to pay their way in what had become an extremely expensive country.

The new leader also registered disgust with divisive rhetoric and pledged his party would take the high road.

"We have an economic divide to contend with that won't get the proper attention as long as our leaders are attacking each other.

"The slurs and name-calling, the race baiting and insults may work to short-term political advantage, but they hurt the country in the long run; deflecting attention from real issues and real decisions, retarding our progress to make a more unified and caring Bermuda."

Instead his party would be respectful. "We will not be about name-calling. We will not set people apart."

And despite the heavy defeat at the polls Mr. Swan pointed out it would not be shy of fighting for the interests of the 47 percent of voters who supported the UBP.

"We speak for nearly half the country, and so we will approach this time in Opposition with a commitment to them and to all citizens, including those who are looking for an alternative, for a different approach, for a better way to do things."

With Valentine's Day just around the corner Mr. Swan seemed to be in romantic mood with several pleas for politicians to rule with "loving hearts", although his fiery delivery was more angry than seductive.

Time will tell whether Mr. Swan's overtures are reciprocated or spurned by a sceptical electorate.