Embattled Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert was remaining tight-lipped last night as to whether he will resign — but he said a poll showing a surge in his popularity among the electorate “speaks for itself”.

Mr. Furbert, who is facing a vote of no confidence from his MPs in the United Bermuda Party, told The Royal Gazette that voters he met on the street were giving him their support. “It’s been very interesting walking the streets,” he said. “It’s been very positive from members of the public.”

Asked if he planned to resign this week, Mr. Furbert said: “I’m not speaking at all, I’m not saying anything. Time will tell. We’ll see. My story will be out there eventually.”

He described an opinion poll conducted by this newspaper which saw his personal popularity rating rise by 17 percent as “interesting”. “It speaks for itself as far as support out there,” he added.

Mr. Furbert is understood to be torn over whether to step down as leader before he is pushed by his own parliamentary group. A number of MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in him and a vote must now take place before Easter Monday to decide who will lead the party forward.

One source said yesterday that Mr. Furbert had no choice but to relinquish his position since at least seven of his MPs out of a possible 12 had signed the motion of no confidence.

“You do the math,” said the source, adding that the recent favourable poll results were unlikely to affect the outcome for Mr. Furbert.

“There are constitutional requirements in place and we are dealing with a window of 14 days from Monday (March 26). The aim is to have it completed or worked out within seven days.”

The source added: “I don’t know what he’s going to do. I think he is torn right now and I’m not sure he knows. I think the process is to allow him to reach his own decision.” Another party insider said Mr. Furbert’s 15-month tenure at the top would end soon. “We can’t afford for things to drag on but things like this take time.”

Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley, tipped by some as a possible contender for the leadership, said he didn’t think the public would have to wait “too much longer” for a conclusion to the upheaval in the party.

“I’m not putting a hard and fast timeframe or anything like that,” he said. “We have to respect the leadership at the present time and have some feelings about how it’s going to be handled. I’m sure at the end of the day we’ll come out of it stronger than ever.”

Party chairman Shawn Crockwell said: “It’s a matter for the parliamentary group and I can say that they have been working through the process all week.

“My hope and my understanding is that we are all trying to resolve this as soon as possible. I couldn’t say exactly when. It’s just a matter of that group working it out and coming up with something exciting and in the best interests of everyone.”

Under-fire Furbert finds support on the street