UBP heavyweight Michael Dunkley is set to take on Patrice Minors in her Smith's North seat as the Opposition pulls out all the stops in a bid to win the next election.

And understands other big hitters will likely be shifted to fight PLP-held seats and try to reverse 2003's narrow general election defeat.

One UBP senior party insider said: "Anybody who was good, in another year will be moving."

While a colleague said: "We are pulling out all the stops. It's all or nothing now."

Mr. Dunkley romped home by more than 200 votes in Devonshire East last time and will now be shifted in an effort to prise out the Health Minister who won Smith's North by 123 votes.

When contacted by Mr. Dunkley would only say: "There has been no decision as yet."

However he confirmed he had been leafleting the Smith's North area.

Some party insiders also believe former Cabinet Minister John Barritt will move from his safe Devonshire South Central seat to take on Glenn Blakeney who won Devonshire North Central last time by 105 votes.

Officially the party was keeping its cards close to its chest. Mr. Barritt said: "A number of things have been discussed but nothing has been decided.

"I believe the idea was with a view to winning the seat rather than losing me."

Other names being thrown up as possibly moving to fight more marginal seats include Maxwell Burgess and Cole Simons.

However it was far from clear whether Mr. Burgess would actually fight any seat next time around.

Asked about one rumour he was stepping down he said: "I am not speculating at this point in time. We are still two years out from an election."

But he added that at aged 53 he was still one of the younger MPs in the House.

Government MP Ren?e Webb, who won St. George's South by just eight votes after being persuaded to stay on by then Premier Jennifer Smith, has yet to throw in the towel.

She said: "I am still running as far as I know. I haven't made a decision yet."

Opposition sources said former Education Minister Tim Smith is unlikely to fight the seat again although a successor has not be chosen.

One party strategist said telephone polling had been done to see which MPs had most pull in particular areas. However homegrown candidates are likely to be picked for seats in Somerset and St. George's where local appeal is still a major factor in what could be another tight election.

If 75 people had switched their votes in six key seats last time the UBP would have won the last election. However the Opposition also has a number of seats which it holds by a knife-edge which could be vulnerable to sustained campaigning from the PLP. PLP spokesman Scott Simmons said he knew nothing of the Opposition's strategy.

He added it was an understandable ploy although his party would not be following suit by shifting its key figures.

"There is no indication at Alaska Hall that there will be any change."

Meanwhile one Cabinet source has scotched rumours that Premier Alex Scott will be challenged for the party leadership at the delegates conference next month.

The insider said there was nowhere near the dissatisfaction levels which saw previous Premier Jennifer Smith ousted after Cabinet meetings dragged on with no one wanting to speak.

Mr. Scott was characterised as someone who consulted widely while not being afraid to hold minister's to account. And the source said even Randy Horton, who was initially angry at his recent demotion to Environment from Home Affairs, had accepted it and moved on.