The United Bermuda Party is split down the middle with seven of its 14 MPs believed to be pushing for a new party to be formed after concluding the current model is doomed to failure.

The Royal Gazette understands a group of both established and new MPs will urge the UBP to disband amicably at a retreat at the Elbow Beach this weekend.

Asked if the party could be salvaged, a source close to the break away group said: "In all honesty — it might not be today or tomorrow but something is going to happen.

"There are enough people who hold enough sway among the branches to encourage a disbandment or break up. There are talks going on daily with different groups of people.

"From what I understand, they are trying to make it a mutual understanding so people leave without hard feelings."

The source predicted tomorrow's meeting might see frustrated venting but he emphasised the splitters wanted to maturely work through the process.

The UBP lost its third election on the trot in December — picking up 14 seats to the PLP's 22 — and attracting 47 percent of the popular vote — slightly less than its 2003 figure.

Those in favour of a break-up say there are voters who are dissatisfied with the PLP who would never vote for the UBP on race grounds — something the PLP capitalised on fully in what many saw as a dirty campaign.

One loyalist UBP MP last night played down thoughts of a breakaway.

"I think it is a lot of people jockeying for position."

And Acting Party Leader Patricia Gordon- Pamplin said she was not concerned about talks of a new party.

"If individuals want to bring it forward we don't stifle discussion," she said.

She said the party had been given significant public support at the last election. "We all ran under the umbrella of the United Bermuda Party."

UBP MPs are expected to select a new leader by the middle of next week as it emerged that Bob Richards had withdrawn from the race. John Barritt has also been linked with the job but could not be reached for comment this week.

The rebel source conceded the new grouping would be destined for disaster if the rump UBP stayed on and challenged it at future elections.

"In order for us to live they have to go. We cannot have three parties. That's why we are working to make it mutual.

"Whatever finances there are — that's theirs. We don't want their money. We can give back cheques to whoever donated. We are having a clean break when we go out."

Asked if the new group would stand down and fight by-elections, he said: "That's something all of us have to discuss. It is a very key thing. We don't want to destabilise the country. We are not trying to be childish or force someone's hand, it is a very serious thing we are doing."

The source said the movement to break from the UBP had started before the election.

"We were maybe blessed, we fell into it somehow and can solidify what is going to happen."

Asked if it was likely that established MPs would want to risk throwing away careers and solid majorities for a new political group, the source said: "They might say 'you know what, I have had enough. I might as well pack up my toys, what is the sense of fighting?'"

The source conceded the break could come as late as summer but he said when it did come there would be a well publicised roll out with future election candidates announced.

He said there were already people prepared to serve a new party.

"From what I am understanding there are various conversations with a lot of different people — independents and supporters of the PLP who are not happy with the way things are going and they are looking for viable options."

Austin Warner, who stood unsuccessfully in Pembroke Central at the last election, said MPs who stood under a new banner after being elected under the UBP flag would need to resign their seats and fight again to maintain credibility.

Mr. Warner, who has an open mind on forming a new party, said the public needed to be involved in any major change in the Opposition. "We need to be more inclusive. It should not remain as something MPs are just involved in."

Khalid Wasi, who led the short-lived All Bermuda Congress which at one stage had planned to fight seats, has long called for the UBP to disband because he believes it cannot win and to allow a new alternative to more effectively challenge the PLP.

But Mr. Wasi, who is not involved in the new group, said the danger was that the old UBP would fight the new entity in by-elections and allow the PLP to win more seats.

A three-way split could also see the PLP call an early election to consolidate its power.

However, if the old UBP decided to carry on but not fight the new entity the PLP would paint the two Opposition parties as being in collusion, he said.

"This is why it is important for the UBP to disband," he said.