Despite surviving a crisis meeting last week United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert might not be safe in his job.

The Royal Gazette understands several senior MPs urged him to step aside while two junior politicians also spoke out against him carrying on.

But the disquiet was not backed up by anyone deciding to run for the leadership during last Wednesday's three and a half hour gathering of MPs and Senators.

One highly-placed source said the comments urging Mr. Furbert to go came from all sides but were couched in the politest language.

"They hoped he would pick up on the nuances. They never gave the reasons. I think the only real reason that seemed to prevail was concern about his ability to take pressure when the heat really gets turned on."

In his speech to the nation last week Mr. Furbert revealed he came close to quitting following high-level resignations within his party over the race issue.

The source said it was only a matter of time until Mr. Furbert went.

"If Ewart Brown called an election tomorrow, Wayne Furbert would be gone the day after but if Ewart Brown goes full term he will be gone anyway."

The insider said Mr. Furbert's leadership had been in question long before the resignations of MP Jamahl Simmons and party chairwoman Gwyneth Rawlins and the wider party was concerned how Mr. Furbert would match up against Premier Dr. Brown in the forthcoming election. The party insider said: "Wayne was talking about how Ewart was more articulate than himself but Ewart's qualities of leadership don't stop there."

Approached on whether he had been asked to go Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette: "I am not commenting on that.

"As far as the party is concerned we are moving forward. One will always have distractions out there."

And Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz gave full backing for Mr. Furbert.

"I think we are going through a difficult period."

He said Mr. Furbert was a healing influence for his party and the country.

"Bermuda needs that. There are people out there trying to divide and conquer. The PLP's aim is to racially divide Bermuda."

David Dodwell also voiced his support while Women's Affairs spokeswoman Suzann Roberts-Holshouser said the issue of the UBP's leadership was hardly ever raised on the doorstep where other matters were more pressing. "I believe he's safe until the election. He is supported by his colleagues."

The party's finance spokeswoman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said: "If he had been told that his time was up, it was in a different meeting than the one that I attended.

"This is the first I am hearing of that. With respect to leadership, he is the leader.

"He was the leader going into Wednesday's meeting, and he was the leader coming out of Wednesday's meeting.

"Is he the best person? If I had a crystal ball, I wouldn't be a politician. I have no reason to disbelieve that he is the best person.

"I will acknowledge that we all have shortcomings, but they are offset by our sincerity and desire to serve."

Former leader Grant Gibbons said: "I really don't comment on internal party matters." He said caucus was supposed to be a forum for frank talk and it would not work if people leaked information.

He added: "I would really prefer not to say anything at all on this matter."

Opposition House leader John Barritt also declined to comment on the issue.

And Maxwell Burgess, who held a press conference earlier this month to denounce Mr. Furbert's leadership, declined to say much.

He said: "My views on the leadership are known to the country. I still continue to hold those views, I am not prepared to comment beyond that."

Meanwhile the Opposition has yet to name a successor to Mr. Burgess who stepped down as Home Affairs spokesman after coming out against Mr. Furbert.