The Progressive Labour Party elects its new leader tonight — with Paula Cox and Terry Lister both confident they'll emerge as Premier.

Supporters from both camps believe they've got the delegates in place to win at Devonshire Recreation Club and begin a new political era following the departure of Premier Ewart Brown.

The other candidate, Dale Butler, is promising a thunderous speech, but yesterday appeared a strong contender instead for the deputy role held for the past four years by Ms Cox.

An estimated 166 party members — delegates from across the Island, MPs and party executive — will take part in a secret ballot after speeches from all three candidates this evening.

Ms Cox enjoys the public backing of a majority of MPs, is understood to have support of many high up in the party, and has recently polled very well among PLP voters.

But Mr. Lister's supporters are said to have worked hard inside and outside the party and don't believe delegates will simply fall into line with Ms Cox.

Mr. Butler has repeatedly stated he will save most of his campaigning for the speech on the night, and his camp accepts many of his ideas are not popular in the PLP.

Supporters of all three candidates spoke to The Royal Gazette yesterday to explain why they believe their candidate should become Premier.

Government Senator Walton Government Senator Walton Brown, who has worked on Finance Minister Ms Cox's campaign, said: "Paula Cox is the right leader for the right time. Within the party, Ms Cox has demonstrated she is an effective team player while asserting and articulating her position on key issues affecting the party.

"She gets it that party strength is the key to maintaining Government power and, more importantly, it is only when you have such power are you able to deliver on the needs of the people. I expect her tenure as Premier will lead to a diminution in the tensions that have so deeply fractured our Country.

"We need to heal; we need to have hope. I believe Paula Cox, as Premier, will set us on that path."

Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief, a key player in former Labour Minister Mr. Lister's camp, said: "These are very, very difficult economic times and we have these high rates of crime. Out of the three candidates, Terry is far and away the best person to tackle that.

"He has a very sound understanding and background in financial matters and international affairs. His town hall meetings have also demonstrated he has a good grasp on the other issues such as crime and education. He's well managed, clear, clearly articulate and focused."

Many in the PLP have long deemed Ms Cox the natural successor to Dr. Brown. Consistently popular in the polls, she is frequently praised within the party for her "quiet strength" and integrity.

A long-serving Cabinet Minister, her only serious wobble came earlier this year when she called herself a "cog in the wheel" as Finance Minister, unable to turn down colleagues' requests to spend money; she also faced criticism for a tax-raising Budget, while during her spell in Finance debt has spiralled from $240 million four years ago to an estimated $1 billion-plus today.

Ms Cox has spoken of the positives of the existing Government, pointing to efforts to improve education and reduce crime, while pledging to cut debt with a Civil Service shake-up and putting capital projects on hold. Mr. Lister served in Cabinet for most of a ten-year period before quitting when he called for Dr. Brown to resign in the aftermath of the Uighurs affair and an attempt to force a gambling law through Parliament last year.

He has run an extensive campaign of town hall meetings on key issues, saying that gives him a mandate from the people if he wins tonight.

He has pledged to get tougher on crime, with tougher sentences for gun criminals, and to put the Social Rehabilitation Ministry at the heart of his plan for a safer Bermuda with better education.

Mr. Butler, a maverick backbencher, served in Cabinet for six years before quitting over the Uighurs.

His platform contains a ream of social pledges, including building a new homeless shelter. But he openly states many in the PLP oppose his liberal views, and disagree with ideas such as putting United Bermuda Party figures Grant Gibbons and John Barritt in his administration.