The decision to call the election straight after the Throne Speech was roundly criticised by political commentator Stuart Hayward who branded it "the height of abuse of the process."

He claimed: "It makes a mockery of protocol by laying out a legislative agenda that the Premier knew full well he wasn't going to follow up, because once Parliament is dissolved, there is no Premier and no Government to do following up... in fact, every promise and plan put to the people in the Throne Speech is a sham of a promise, a sham of a plan, serving only to give an illusion of a caring and visionary government.

"In reality the only purpose the sham of a Throne Speech served was to fill the newscasts with high sounding promises."

Of the six-and-a-half-weeks of campaigning now in store, Mr. Hayward, an environmentalist and former Independent MP, said: "The campaign length is no longer than that in 2003, as I recall. It was so long then as to be exhausting for candidates and tedious for the electorate. I can only imagine that tiring tedium will be repeated."

Mr. Hayward is also unimpressed with the standard of those Bermudians have to choose from.

"Frankly, the calibre across the whole slate of candidates isn't all that great. There are some standouts on both sides who have impressed me with their genuine interest in the whole of Bermuda's people.

"There are equally some candidates who are clearly just there to pad the slate. If we could choose from both sides we could put together a fairly decent government. It could happen," he said.

However, asked if he would consider standing again as an Independent, he said: "Bermuda's political environment has become far too toxic, far too unhealthy. While I remain committed to public service, barring extraordinary circumstances I will not be a candidate."

PLP stalwart Ottiwell Simmons, who retires as an MP as of this election, said Mr. Hayward is entitled to his opinion.

However, his is that Dr. Brown is a very astute man and any Premier will call an election "when they consider they have the advantage."

With rumours of disharmony within the party ranks flying, Mr. Simmons scotched questions about whether it is unified enough to win.

"Listen, every crisis brings people together. We are very much together, unless there is some surprise to me. As far as I'm concerned the PLP is in harmony," he said.

Mr. Simmons added that the party wants to spend another 35 years in power "to inch out the United Bermuda Party in terms of time holding on to the reins of power. We're going to pull out all the stops and have a lot of people working and a lot of strategy at work to ensure that."

Pro-UBP political commentator Christian Dunleavey said of the announcement: "It's a bit surprising seeing as the Throne Speech sounded relatively flat to me."

He speculated: "What's going to be interesting is if people are going to have much tolerance for a nasty campaign as they build up to a season that's supposed to be jolly and merry. Personal attacks are not necessary. Maybe the festive period will direct the campaign back to the issues, although I have my doubts."

Asked what he made of an election timed to coincide with students being home for Christmas, he said: "No party has a lock on the youth vote. No party has cornered them. They're savvy and clued-in and have a very different outlook and future than the politicians who want to fight about the past."