The United Bermuda Party (UBP) deserves another chance at the helm, says Graeme Outerbridge, the Secretary General of the National Liberal Party (NLP).

"For the same reason that the UBP needed to be voted out last time, the PLP needs to be voted out this time," he said. "And since we (NLP) can't be that change agent, the Opposition deserves a chance."

Mr. Outerbridge is expected to announce that he will run as an Independent candidate for the upcoming election. Last week he said that his party was probably on its last legs and, for the purposes of the July 24 poll, was irrelevant.

He said he will definitely be a candidate for the election but not necessarily for the NLP. And he threw his weight behind the UBP when asked which party he would prefer at the helm of Government.

"In the same way the UBP needed to lose the last election, it is my feeling the PLP needs to lose for the same reasons - they are at a crossroads with their political representation. I think losing will galvanise the PLP into a generational change in leadership."

Government's "biggest achievement has been the creation of single seat constituencies and the creation of parity between voting districts. And their action on the long term residency issue that the UBP showed great cowardice on," he said.

"However there's been a host of issues where they sadly have mirrored the government that they have replaced - where Ministers and government officials have been equally difficult in giving access to the public. The UBP was just as bad - in some ways worse.

From my perspective with 25 years in politics, they can be painted with the same brush as they painted the old UBP governments with."

The party appeared to have regrouped and consolidated its position, he continued. "I think they have earned their chance to be taken seriously again. It's up to the Bermudian public to look and consider whether changing back is more of the same." But not everyone is so upbeat.

"The basis on which the UBP existed disappeared in 1998," said ruling party backbencher Arthur Hodgson who last week confirmed that he will not be running for another term in parliament.

"They need to totally rethink their philosophy and they may have to go out of existence and be re-birthed." Last night Mr. Outerbridge said he was close to a decision about his candidacy.