As if the United Bermuda Party hasn't had enough people sticking the knife in over the past few months, Kim Swan thinks he has identified one of its biggest enemies of all — itself.

The UBP leader kicked off 2010 by declaring he's now starting to fight back after working out where it went so badly wrong as the public, branch members and politicians alike turned their back on the party in 2009.

Mr. Swan said by failing to stand up against harsh criticism, the official Opposition has allowed itself to be defined by its opponents — a cardinal sin he believes is going to take years to put right.

In his first in-depth interview since seeing off a leadership challenge last November, Mr. Swan also told The Royal Gazette of his dismay at how the UBP — which saw four disgruntled MPs resign in 2009 — spent so long looking at itself it lost sight of the real issues affecting Bermuda.

And he hit back at the critics inside and outside the party who said much-needed reform needs to start with a clear-out of the veteran politicians whose so-called elitist image has been blamed for successive election failures.

Mr. Swan has long questioned why the efforts of former UBP leaders such as Sir Henry Tucker and Sir Edward Richards are forgotten when people attack the party's legacy.

He told this newspaper: "In some respects, last year we deviated from a lot of good things that we took for granted.

"Yes, the United Bermuda Party made mistakes, but when you allow people to only highlight your mistakes, and minimise the good you have done, fool you, fool me, fool us for allowing people to tell our own story.

"One of the biggest tragedies of 2009 was the disrespect shown to past generations of people that supported the UBP, and representatives of the UBP, by people who got elected under the banner of the UBP.

"And for anyone to sit here in this country and not look around and see that this country has not been successful, and is not a country that other countries would like to emulate — to think it just dropped out of the sky, that's wrong.

"We have been our own biggest enemy. We have a responsibility to recognise who they are and what they did and that this country didn't just drop out of the sky.

"We didn't defend ourselves. Sometimes you have got to stand up and be proud of who you are and where you came from as a group."

Mr. Swan, who late last year launched his own website with a section of biographies on UBP heroes celebrating the 45th anniversary of the party, continued: "We have started telling our own story.

"We can't just reverse things of that nature in one month. It takes years to build a country. It takes years for people to create a perception about the legacy of the UBP.

"It's going to take some commitment and time, some effort and some heart, and some honesty and integrity and selflessness."

Mr. Swan said the UBP needs to show those qualities by being comfortable in its own skin and tackling the issues of the day.

"If you spend your time focusing on how you think people perceive you and not doing your job, then you won't get them to see your true value," he said.

"In 2009, we were preoccupied with doing what we thought collectively we needed to do. The one thing that I will ensure takes place in the future is that at all costs we will remain focused on what's best for Bermuda. At all costs.

"Bermuda is at the single most critical time in its 400 years and the people are depending on good, measured representation and leadership.

"I'm very blessed to have with me a collection of men and women in the House of Assembly who are extremely talented in what they do and care about Bermuda deeply."

Reflecting on the party's dwindling parliamentary group, he said: "If 14 weren't a team and with nine we are a team, as a sports person I will take a committed nine and grow out from there."

Many former Opposition members have cited the party's refusal to reinvent itself as their reason for quitting, with ideas of reform including the removal of the old guard, a rebranding with name change and the recruitment of less traditional UBP characters such as disaffected Progressive Labour Party MPs.

And with surveys on voting patterns suggesting the UBP had no chance in 18 of Bermuda's 36 constituencies even before the formation of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, key figures such as deputy leader Trevor Moniz and Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards have both publicly called for major reform.

Mr. Richards went as far as challenging Mr. Swan in a leadership contest last November, armed with a plan to fill up the UBP's "dream tank" which he claimed had run empty as the party had given people no reasons to support it.

To the surprise of many Mr. Swan, dubbed a non-reformist in some corners, fought off the challenge; he says his Shadow Finance Minister is now at the forefront of the plan to make the UBP more relevant and viable.

Mr. Swan refused to disclose exactly what changes are in the pipeline — in addition to allowing grassroots members into the leadership selection process — but it's unlikely the phasing out of the old guard will be a priority on his watch.

He provided this newspaper with a list of specific attributes each MP brings to the table, and also responded to claims former leader Grant Gibbons is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

"Dr. Gibbons is a hardworking, committed person. When he was leader he did a lot of good work; he continues to serve and work in the community in Shadow Education," he said.

"It may sell a newspaper if someone says Kim Swan is being manipulated, but the fact of the matter is that I'm comfortable to work with everybody, from the guy who doesn't have a job to the guy who is a CEO.

"If anyone thinks this country can be successful without successful people I don't know where the hell they are living. Successful people are necessary. Bright people are necessary to ensure the country survives."

And of long-serving MP John Barritt, who last year said he was considering his future with the party, Mr. Swan said: "I look forward to a continued contribution from Mr. Barritt and one that will see him as a Government Minister one day with the United Bermuda Party."