Two Government Ministers and two backbenchers called for Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's resignation this morning, citing a "crisis of leadership".

In the wake of the Premier's surprise decision to call for a vote on the Gaming Bill yesterday morning, which failed, Minister Terry Lister stood at the Motion to Adjourn the House and led the call for the Premier to resign.

He said: "I am calling on the Premier to step down as soon as possible and allow the party to select who we need to heal as a party and allow the country to move forward and focus on the good of the country."

Mr Lister listed off instances where he believed the Premier showed poor leadership such as taking the national debt from $175 million in 2004 to $680 million in 2009, asking Ministers to cut back and then spending $400,000 travel.

Speaking of the Gaming Bill he said it indicated the Premier "has no respect for this House"

Former Minister Randolph Horton stood next asking the Premier to step down, saying he had never seen Bermuda divided as much as it has been in the last month over the Premier's surprise move to bring four Guantánamo Bay detainees to the Island without consulting the Cabinet of Governor.

Speaking of the Premier's attempt to pass Gaming legislation yesterday he said: I am asking that each member of this house stand up and say enough is enough... I don't think any one in this House can say they trust the Premier."

Former Cabinet member Wayne Perinchief joined Mr. Lister in calling for the Premier's resignation, calling it a "watershed moment", adding: "I cannot remember another leader challenged in this way in the House.

"I have been a very strident and consistent critic of the leadership shown this term," said Mr. Perinchief. "What has happened today in the house is consistent with what has happened with other matters. There comes a time where partisan politics need to take second place to the politics to lead a country. Leaders should bring people together, not divide them.

Speaking of the future he said: "In the recess, our government and our party has to make tough decisions."

Minister of Sport Elvin James stood next asking for the resignation of the Premier and added: "Mr. Speaker no man is bigger than this party.

"I have listened to my constituents say 'where is your backbone? Where is your spine? We put you in there and what are you doing?'."

He also noted that he wanted leadership change to come about in the right way. I didn't want to support actions by others or be dictated by the media."

Deputy Premier Paula Cox did not speak in the House but afterwards told the Royal Gazette she has been clear all along that there are ways to change leadership and never supported the no confidence motion brought three weeks early by the Opposition.

"The person you want to speak to now is the elephant in the room," she said. "The party leadership will have to take note about what Ministers and MPs have said today, you cannot ignore that elephant. They have now heard that and they will have to act." The Premier did not respond for comment.