Bob Richards and Kim Swan will go head to head in a United Bermuda Party leadership battle next Thursday after Mr. Swan resigned as leader this afternoon.

Party chairman Jeff Sousa today confirmed the pair had both submitted nomination papers, meaning the contest can take place the day before Parliament reopens with the Throne Speech.

About 50 or 60 party members are expected to vote at a special general meeting, after the UBP’s constitution was amended to give more people a say in the election. Mr. Swan will remain interim party leader until the contest.

Mr. Sousa said in a statement: “Mr. Swan’s resignation was submitted to facilitate an early election. It followed a gentlemen’s agreement to do so between him and Mr. Richards during last week’s meeting that ratified an array of amendments to the UBP constitution, which included changes to significantly expand the number of electors for the party leader.”

Mr. Swan stated: “I have always stated that once the party had ratified changes to the constitution I would encourage ratification of party leader under the revised rules.

“We have a challenge on the table and, given all that the party has experienced, I felt it best for the party to hold the election for party leader prior to prior to the reconvening of Parliament.”

Mr. Richards has repeatedly stated that he has a plan to help the UBP recover from a turbulent spell which has included the resignations of five MPs, leaving the official Opposition with just nine politicians in the House of Assembly.

Both have been categorised as non-reformists — but each argues he is the right man to push through change many have been calling for.

For more, see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.