ne of the PLP's brightest stars Paula Cox won plaudits for her handling of the tricky Home Affairs portfolio in the PLP's first term.

She pushed through the thorny issue of granting rights to long term residents left in limbo for years by the previous Government.

Yet something of the shine has come off Ms Cox since as she has been shuttled between various portfolios before ending up at her current post in Finance where her performance has been adequate rather than inspired.

Few have doubted her aptitude but many have questioned her appetite for the rigours of full-time politics as she has always insisted in keeping a private sector job ? most recently as a lawyer for ACE Ltd.

Humble and personable in private she also might lack the desire to be in the spotlight while flashes of temper when under fire in the House of Assembly might indicate something of a thin skin.

Although highly regarded by both political friend and foe alike Ms Cox could suffer from some residual misogynistic sentiment within the parliamentary party who vowed never to have another women leader after Jennifer Smith.

If dragged into the leadership battle Ms Cox will likely pick up votes of former Smith supporters keen to reward her for loyalty shown during the 2003 post election schism.

And she could be the ultimate beneficiary if a compromise candidate is again sought by the 'stop Brown at any cost faction' still operating within sections of the Progressive Labour Party.

Whether she wants it nor not the ultimate party loyalist, whose father Eugene was one of the PLP's guiding lights, could soon be given an offer she cannot refuse.