When the Progressive Labour Party was formed in 1963, workers' rights were severely limited and social justice was merely a concept ordinary men and women hoped would one day embrace them. Without question, many of the advances of workers' rights were done by the trade union arm of the labour movement in tandem with its political arm – the PLP.

Together, unions and the PLP – through the expansion of workers' rights and better social and economic policies – have made Bermuda a better place.

As a party we continue to see a natural alignment with workers; indeed many of our policies are designed to strengthen the rights and opportunities for those who were largely ignored before 1998. The list is extensive but let me cite a few: free day care for those who need it, free student bus and ferry travel, waiver of land tax for seniors, abolition of death tax on family home, free Bermuda College, the Employment Act which protects non-unionised workers, the Mirrors programme to help wayward youth, etc.

With policy after policy, I would assert that this Government has done more to benefit working and middle class Bermudians than any other government in our history.

An unfortunate undercurrent has now come to the surface accusing the PLP of elitism and losing touch with "the people". Certainly the argument cannot be sustained if you examine our policies and so our critics invoke that seductively appealing, but ultimately illogical, approach: focus on personality and engage in the politics of personal destruction.

The first argument is that the party is too "bourgeois", with too many middle class types and not enough workers. Our members know that to be untrue. At any Central Committee meeting one will see members from diverse economic backgrounds debating policies and strategies – they speak freely as they focus on making the party and the country stronger.

The vast majority of our Parliamentarians and party executive do not come from backgrounds of social or economic privilege. Many are university educated and will therefore speak, even act, in ways different than someone who has not had as many years of formal education. For that we cannot, and do not, apologise. Many parents want their children to do better than they were able to during an era of constrained opportunities; and many of us are products of that collective desire. Some of us have become doctors, lawyers, reinsurance executives, bankers and senior civil servants. Our professions are diverse but we are united behind a party that has done so much to give people opportunities. And we stand beside union members, workers who are not unionised and beside those who need a helping hand to better chart their future.

When the claim of a "bourgeois" party falls apart, due to its inherent illogic, the politics of personal destruction is directed at the most visible component of the party – its leader. Again, few will criticise Dr Ewart Brown's successes as a Minister or as Premier – from fast ferries and cheaper airfares to an accomplishments-focused, not process-focused, administration.

The focus of criticism revolves around his "elitist and out of touch" style. Anyone clinging to this view only needs to spend a day with the Premier to discern how approachable he is while still directing the affairs of state with great intellect and strong vision. Premier Brown ensures anyone getting in touch with him will have that issue addressed either by him directly or one of his Ministers. At one point he left an important meeting to assist a distressed mother who sent him a message stating she was about to be evicted.

Critics point to a party fund-raiser that cost $500 per ticket as an illustration of a party out of touch with the masses. They fail to point out this is a single annual event and that this is only one out of not less than 50 fund-raising events organised by the party annually. Many of these events cost between $10 and $20. Critics point to a single occurrence of the Premier using government funds to pay for a private jet to take him to Washington. No mention is made of the Premier's desire, and public expectation, that he attend the national football team's World Cup qualifier match against Trinidad and Tobago that Sunday evening and still meet with President Bush Monday morning to nurture the centrally important US-Bermuda relationship.

Premier Brown is a strong, confident leader and there will clearly be those who view this simply as arrogance. Critics extend this argument and make the elitist accusation, which in my view is without foundation. Dr Brown brings an element of flair and a great deal of charisma to our political landscape. He is an articulate leader and he continues to serve our country well.

The PLP have been given a mandate to govern and they have done so with great focus on Mr and Ms Bermuda. We will continue along this path as we are all united in the desire of a better future for all of our people.

David Burt is chairman of the Progressive Labour Party.