When British Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed that he planned to step down as leader of the Labour Party, it didn’t take long for the knives to come out - even within his own party.

By putting an expiry date on his term in office, Mr. Blair opened himself up to charges from his own MPs that he was a “lame duck PM” and should step down sooner rather than later.

Earlier this month, Dr. Ewart Brown surprised many by putting a deadline on his time in the top job in Bermuda. The new Premier, on the day he announced his bid for the Progressive Labour Party leadership, declared that he would not stay in the hot seat for ten years.

“I really doubt it,” he said. “I am not going to be locked into that but I will tell you much of what I would like to see achieved can be achieved within five years. It means hard work and some feathers being ruffled but the country deserves no less.”

It seemed a strange statement for a man who has made no attempt to disguise his huge ambition and desire to lead Bermuda. Why would a politician who has twice tried for the leadership be so ready to relinquish that power? And could his frank admission create unrest in his party?

Dr. Brown’s supporters dismissed that suggestion last night. Former PLP Minister Arthur Hodgson said it was wrong to compare the situation with that of Tony Blair.

“What happened with Tony Blair is he ran out of steam,” said Mr. Hodgson. “There was nothing else for him to do and he made everybody fed up with him.

“I’m a firm believer in people not staying in any office too long. I think that Dr. Brown will get his things done in his time. If you give yourself a time, you are more likely to get things going.”

He added: “It indicates that he sees it as a job to be done as opposed to an office to be held onto.”

Conference delegate Chris Furbert, president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, agreed. “Why would it go against him? I disagree that it would mean a lack of continuity.”

Mr. Furbert said Paula Cox’s deputy leadership win could place her in the ideal position to prepare for eventual power at the end of Dr. Brown’s term in office. “I’m not saying it’s a definite shoo-in as it’s up to the delegates. But she could be the next leader.”

Former PLP Senator Calvin Smith also dismissed the idea that Dr. Brown’s frank admission that he intends to be a short-term Premier could lead to a lack of loyalty from his MPs.

“How is that going to cause problems?” he asked. He cited the US — “the greatest country in the world” where the most one president can serve is two terms for a total of eight years — as an example of how an expiry date can be a plus for a politician.

“He feels that what he’d like to see happen in Bermuda, he’d be able to accomplish in five years. He feels after that he’d be holding onto the position for prestige.”

Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler said the deadline would give Dr. Brown an incentive to get results. “I think he is going to work hard to ensure that history records that he not only had the gift of the gab but he could get things done. He might not get everything done but he can make a difference in that time.”