He may be Bermuda's most vocal politician but don't expect new United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan to wax lyrical about his group's internal problems after the party crashed to its third defeat in nine years.

The reasons behind the poor showing will be hammered out in meetings over the coming weeks said Mr Swan.

And no amount of probing will elicit what Mr. Swan's personal vision is as he prepares for the fast looming re-opening of Parliament next Friday.

"I am not the guy now who has the luxury to sit back and pass an opinion. I am the guy who is responsible that there is an effective team. There are a lot of moving parts."

But he stresses he is willing to listen, take advice on presentation and be open with the press — when he's ready.

"A lot of the problems we have to confront and decisions we have to make are not things that just happened last week and there's no magic bullet. I have to take some time to assess."

But he said he was well capable of making an analysis having won a tough seat off the PLP when colleagues across the island were failing to breakthrough.

Some said Mr. Swan was successful in St. George's West, where he beat incumbent PLP MP Dean Foggo, by keeping the party at arm's length, perhaps indicating the UBP's image damages candidates rather than helps in some areas.

Mr Swan won't be drawn on that — his take is that he ran on his record and recognition factor after building a trust base earned through hard work.

"I ran a campaign which said this was four times in 25 years — paralleling the campaign Dame Jennifer Smith ran in 1989 — six times in 17 years.

"I campaigned 48 out of 49 days — I immersed myself in the same way I will immerse myself in this job. I haven't played golf since October 29! But I am committed."

Pressed again on the party's role he said: "The pertinent details of the campaign that was required for me to win my seat is a key ingredient as we go into the post mortem session. I don't want to compromise the significance there."

Mr. Swan said he was calling for the inquest into what went wrong even before he became leader.

"I, more than anybody, want to know why I could be successful and why some of my other colleagues who were as hard working weren't successful."

Mr. Swan said he plans to be a healing force after the party had been preoccupied with leadership issues for "quite some time".

Yet some party insiders have described Mr. Swan as a loud man with a temper.

Asked if he was the right choice given those perceptions he said: "I take that as a very constructive recommendation.

"The fact that I am passionate and I have a gifted voice projection it's easy for people to mischaracterise me as just being loud but there are enough people who know how committed I have been over so many years, that I have truly a passion from feelings that are deep inside."

Mr. Swan's decibel levels were also evident during his first press conference when he tore into a reporter about the media's lack of interest in social issues.

"I am not too big to admit I made a mistake. It was the first day on the job. I know I probably have a lot of growing to do on the job — as does anyone."

Asked if he had the temperament to handle the pressure Mr. Swan said: "Absolutely."

If he hadn't been able to handle responsibility he would not have lasted so long as Senate leader, surviving four different Opposition leaders, said Mr. Swan.

He won't reveal who he will put in the Senate but some insiders believe candidates at the last election who want to keep up their national profile will figure.

Certainly Mr. Swan has got a lot on his plate in the days and months ahead. "I have to help the party overcome a devastating election loss."

His task is made tougher by the fact 47 percent of the vote has only garnered 39 percent of the seats and he has to guide several new MPs, even though he is a novice in the House himself.

And more significantly he has a number of MPs who have talked about creating a new force because of the belief the UBP cannot overcome its racial stigma.

The situation elicits a laugh from Mr. Swan. "Crumbs, first day in the job, that's my reality!"

But Mr. Swan gives every impression as seeing their concern as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Certainly some in the rebel faction, made up of both new and established MPs, has made noises about wanting to work with Mr. Swan while others in the dissident group are less keen.

"They are no less forthright than I have been over the years — who more than me to understand? I respect how forthright they are. I truly do."

It will all get added into the mix as the party searches for a winning formula.

The dissident group have yet to publicly name their terms for believing the UBP can survive if it changes and Mr. Swan is not about to give any clues about what's proposed to keep them in the fold.

Probed on whether a name change is on the agenda he said he will be guided by his party. "I have an open mind."

He might be new to the House of Assembly but he has a wealth of experience in other political arenas and reels off a list of service to the party including firing off letters to the paper, campaigning as a candidate and serving in the Senate.

He singles out a meeting in Hamilton Parish where he stood in for then new leader Wayne Furbert to speak on independence where he said he won over Arthur Hodgson on the need for a referendum.

"That was a defining moment for me in politics. I was going into the constituency of my leader on one of the most important nights of his leadership during his honeymoon period when there was a big unveiling."

But it remains to be seen whether Mr. Furbert will join Mr. Swan's Shadow Cabinet.

"I do have members I am talking to convince to take positions," said Mr. Swan.

Although he has been cagey so far, Mr. Swan did indicate the party would be highlighting its concern for the poor as it tries to shed its stuffy image.

"We are a moderate, centrist organisation. Whether we are perceived as that is another issue which is one of the things we will examine."

But the naval gazing won't go on for ever. "You can't be seen as waffling on for an indefinite period."