Former Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith is a strong contender to run for the Progressive Labour Party in Hamilton Parish or Smith's at the next General Election.

The PLP is said to have polled Mr Smith and former Attorney General Larry Mussenden in Smith's West, where Trevor Moniz of the United Bermuda Party is the long-serving MP.

Mr Smith, the brother of former UBP Minister Tim Smith, joined the PLP last year and says he would think seriously about any offers to run as an MP.

Party sources say he has also been linked with another relatively safe UBP seat, Hamilton South, where the incumbent is Darius Tucker, who quit the official Opposition last year and now sits as an Independent.

Asked about the speculation yesterday, Mr Smith would only say: "Public service is integral to my life. If a constituency came calling, I'd have to think seriously about that call. The people's trust is the number one priority as far as I'm concerned."

If he goes for Hamilton South, Mr Smith could expect serious competition from PLP rivals, with constitutional changes now opening the door to anyone who wants to put themselves forward.

Mr Tucker is widely expected to complete his journey across the floor soon and could try to retain the seat under the PLP umbrella, lawyer and local resident Charles Richardson has already declared his interest, and it's also thought highly regarded Hamilton member Charles Clarke could turn his attention there now Wayne Furbert appears strong in Hamilton West.

Former Chief of Staff Wayne Caines ran in Constituency Nine at the last election, but is now thought to be out of the picture.

Whomever gets the nod is expected to face an even more difficult hurdle at the General Election, against experienced former UBP MP Allan Marshall as well as a likely candidate from the Bermuda Democratic Alliance.

Mr Smith also revealed he telephoned Warwick North East MP Dale Butler on Wednesday night to scotch reports that he was being parachuted into the maverick backbencher's Constituency 25 seat.

Meanwhile Mr Butler, whose bid for the party leadership fell flat when he got just two votes, including his own, at the annual delegates' conference, responded to reports he felt he was being pushed out by the PLP hierarchy.

"The PLP has nothing to fear from me," said Mr Butler.

"My ideas were given in an open forum and rejected, like working with all Bermudians, having sailing and swimming as a third national sport and human rights reforms. And now we see these and others being implemented. That is a good feeling.

"When the homeless and handicapped are tackled and there is no payroll tax for those earning less than $65,000 then we will know we had the right speech and because Bermuda will benefit we will feel good to see such ideas accepted.

"Ideas to help the working class and also to see greater business success were presented in the leadership speech including all hands on board for Team Bermuda."