Any challenge to the Progressive Labour Party leadership should come from an MP, not a Senator, former leader Mrs. Lois Browne Evans said yesterday.

"One would expect a challenge from a Member of Parliament, not from a Member who is appointed to the legislature and hasn't won a seat,'' said Mrs. Browne Evans.

When a leadership vote is held at the PLP's conference next week, "all I can say is I trust there will not be any changes,'' she said.

Mrs. Browne Evans was reacting to reports that Opposition Sen. Terry Lister has been testing the waters for a possible challenge to Mr. Wade.

Her comments, combined with remarks made by Mr. Wade on Wednesday, suggest that the PLP leadership believe the threat of a challenge is real.

A Constitutional lawyer, Mrs. Browne Evans said it would be contrary to the Constitution for a Senator to be Opposition Leader.

Asked if the party could not get around that if a sitting MP in a safe seat stepped aside to make way for the Senator, Mrs. Browne Evans said: "There are no safe seats in my district.'' Meanwhile, Sen. Lister did not return telephone calls for the second straight day.

Amid talk of a possible challenge to his leadership, Mr. Wade warned on Wednesday that it would be a "foolish'' move when the party feels it is close to winning power for the first time. "We have built up the confidence of the community in the present leadership,'' he said.

Most PLP MPs stayed out of the fray yesterday, but St. George's North MP Mr.

Leon (Jimmy) Williams rallied around Mr. Wade.

"I think it's just talk,'' Mr. Williams said of the possibility of a leadership challenge. "We would have heard about it in our caucus.

"I have to agree with what Mr. Wade said in today's paper. I'm very happy with the performance in the House (of Assembly).'' PLP chairman Mr. Victor Fishington confirmed on Wednesday that a few members of the PLP's Parliamentary Group appeared to be testing the waters for a leadership challenge. But the only name he confirmed was Sen. Lister's. Mrs.

Browne Evans said she had heard of no pending challenge from any PLP MP.