The change of leadership for the United Bermuda Party, announced suddenly and unexpectedly at the weekend, is seen as a move to make the party more electable after it was beaten in both the 1998 and 2003 General Elections.

But do the people on the streets view the UBP as a more attractive proposition now that Wayne Furbert has replaced Grant Gibbons as the man in charge?

The Royal Gazette asked a cross-section of the public for their thoughts and found opinion divided and some waiting to see what the new man at the helm of the Opposition would do to woo voters.

Lisa Smith, 36, of Somerset, who works in shareholder services, said: "I do not think the change makes much difference. I don't think the UBP will win. I think they should get rid of the two political parties and have one person for one vote for the individual they want. I don't like the political set up."

Real estate worker Gail Aruda, of Paget, was upbeat about the change of leadership. She said: "I think they will be more electable because Wayne is a man of the people and down to earth. He is lovely, very accessible. I think Grant is a fabulous man and would like to see him as Minister of Finance. But Wayne has got the common touch."

Claire Perry, of Smith's, thought it was possible that the UBP were now more electable with Mr. Furbert at the helm. She said: "Grant (Gibbons) has done a wonderful job. Perhaps with the reshuffle Wayne will come forward as the right person for the job. Grant has been a wonderful asset to the UBP and I hope he will continue to put all his efforts into the party."

Retired Ludwig Cann, 79, of Pembroke, is not too hopeful that a simple change of leadership will make much difference either to the UBP or to Bermudian politics in general, although he did think that of all the UBP MPs he would have chosen Maxwell Burgess as its preferred leader. He added: "It will all be the same, they will still be fighting each other. I don't think this is going to make much difference, but let's see. He can try to make a difference, but I don't think he will."

Taxi driver John McConnie, 59, of Devonshire, believes it is possible that Mr. Furbert's leadership will make the Opposition party more appealing to electors although he had some reservations about the impact the new man would have as a political personality. He said: "He's not very dynamic, but I think he can make a little difference. He's got the best chance, he's the best of the bunch. I wasn't surprised by the change in leadership. Mr Gibbons is a good man, but he reflected the 'old brigade' of the UBP."

Asked if Mr. Furbert would make the UBP electable, landscaper Earl Tucker, of Pembroke, said: "Only time will tell. Once he's put in the leadership position they all need to work together as a unit. It's way too early to say yet. When it comes to politics it does not matter who is in the leader position it is how they work together as a unit."