Faced with poor poll results and a pushy political opponent after his blood Premier Alex Scott could be forgiven for bowing out and enjoying his retirement years.Yet anyone expecting Mr Scott to walk quietly off into the sunset knows nothing about the character of a man who might seem unassuming and softly-spoken in private but loves the limelight and a big political fight.

And after years in the shadows of Opposition the Premier is not keen to prematurely draw the curtains on his time in the sun — after appearing to have got on top of health problems after a prostate operation more than three years ago.

A party officer and public relations officer in the 1970s, he formed part of a highly effective trio of Opposition Senators with Jennifer Smith and the late David Allen from 1985 to 1989 when the PLP's fortunes were at their lowest ebb.

When Ms Smith and Mr. Allen won election to the House of Assembly in 1989, Mr. Scott became Opposition Senate Leader and then won his seat in Warwick East in 1993, defeating Education Minister Gerald Simons.

He earned a reputation as firebrand on Immigration, the Police and the Bermuda Regiment when Shadow Home Affairs Minister but when the party won government he became Works Minister.

It was in that post that his tendency to try to brazen out problems became evident when he brushed aside Opposition claims that the Berkeley project was running late and overbudget.

When Auditor General Larry Dennis said the project was seriously delayed and questioned the legitimacy of the performance bond Mr. Scott said the Auditor General should be replaced on a regular basis.

Yet the landmark scheme, so dear to the hearts of the ex-Berkeley-ite clique at the heart of the PLP, cost the nation dear — an extra $50 million when it opened three years behind schedule.

By that time Mr. Scott was well into his Premiership while Ashfield DeVent, promoted to fill Mr. Scott's old job, was forced to sack the contractors ProActive before Mr. Scott then sacked him.

The aftermath saw accusations of betrayal from union backers who had supported the firm while detractors berated Mr. Scott for seemingly using Mr. DeVent as his fall guy.

The Berkeley issue still resonates and it was apt that Mr. Scott chose that venue to launch what was basically a campaign speech for the opening of this year's delegates conference.

There he stressed the need for unity and claimed he had brought peace to the party — despite the fact delegates were again having to deal with a challenge.

Listing the achievements since 2003 the Premier had not got far before he had to extend it to things accomplished since the PLP's first election win in 1998.

It perhaps gave credence to the critics who believe the party has achieved too little in its time in power.

In tub-thumping form he whipped up the audience into applause but many exiting the hall later said the fight was a long way from over.

Keen to appease the radical wing Mr. Scott finally brought the age-old PLP goal of independence back into the political spotlight in February 2004.

But a failure to deal with the question of how and when the decision would be taken meant the debate never really got as far as to why.

Public meetings failed to rouse more than the hardcore while the polls showed a majority resolutely against.

Although, ironically the anti-independence lobby had diminished slightly when the Premier finally admitted the initiative had been canned this week.

Critics have seen his willingness to back down in the face of opposition as a weakness.

Supporters feel it is indicates the instincts of someone with a nose for political survival which the party will need going in to the next election.

Backbench MP Ashfield DeVent said: "He's more astute than people think he is. He's good at blending people together in a team that might not make a team.

"But he has a tendency to want to please too many people."

He conceded both candidates can appear a bit slick. Certainly a lot of promises will have been made to a lot of people by Mr. Scott this week.

A roasting from Renée Webb in a questions and answers session in front of the delegates on Wednesday night led to a swift promise to promote more woman to the Senate at the next opportunity.

But if the delegates go against him tonight it will be Dr. Brown picking the upper chamber next week.