Bob Richards is a non-reformist who fought against calls for change in the United Bermuda Party, former Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert claimed last night.

In a string of allegations at a public meeting, Mr. Furbert poured water over the Shadow Finance Minister's claim he can take over from Kim Swan as leader of the ailing party and push through a plan for transformation.

The Hamilton West MP also had harsh words for key party members, claiming:

• Mr. Swan didn't want anything to do with the UBP during the last election campaign;

• Grant Gibbons controls both Mr. Swan and the party and needs to retire;

• at the time Mr. Furbert became leader, Michael Dunkley told him he could not support him;

• party colleagues plotted against Mr. Furbert during his leadership, ultimately forcing his resignation.

In front of about 30 people at Temperance Hall last night — his first constituency meeting since quitting the UBP in December last year — Mr. Furbert said he would consider joining the Progressive Labour Party if invited, and would also like to serve on Premier Ewart Brown's Cabinet even while sitting as an Independent MP.

He said he would also consider joining Bermuda's new third party, but complained defecting UBP MPs Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill had failed to contact him about their plans until recently, despite the fact he joined them in their calls for reform after the 2007 General Election defeat.

Asked by an audience member what he thought about Mr. Richards, Mr. Furbert replied: "I have not spoken to Bob since I left the UBP.

"If you ask whether Bob Richards is a reformist, I would say no. Bob Richards is not a reformist. He fought us.

"I used to ask Bob: what did you think we should change? I was putting forward ideas.

"Another person in this room (UBP MP John Barritt) was putting forward ideas. Shawn was putting forward ideas.

"Every time he was asked, Grant, a few others, not one of them would ever answer that question. Now he's (Mr. Richards) become the great reformist. I'm puzzled."

Mr. Furbert said when he was elected party leader in January 2006 at Mr. Dunkley's house, four people abstained from voting against either himself or the other contender Maxwell Burgess, realising that would mean neither could get enough votes to win.

His old friend Mr. Burgess then stepped aside to allow him to win, said Mr. Furbert.

He claimed Mr. Dunkley approached him and said: 'Wayne, I can't support either of you two."

Mr. Furbert continued: "I became leader. There was turmoil. I had my supporters, then there was the older group, and some people down the middle."

He said eventually a group of seven MPs approached him, telling him if he did not resign the next day they would issue a vote of no confidence against him.

"So I called a press conference and I resigned," said Mr. Furbert. He was replaced as leader by Mr. Dunkley.

Mr. Furbert said of the next election: "Shawn Crockwell, Mark Pettingill, Donte Hunt will lose their seats. Kim Swan is gone already because Kim Swan ran as Kim Swan in the last election.

"I tried to give him brochures. He didn't want anything to do with the UBP. If we showed up at meetings he would tell us off. And now he's Mr. UBP."

He then said it is vital for Bermuda to have a strong Opposition, adding: "Grant Gibbons needs to retire. Grant controls the party. Grant has control of Kim."

Mr. Furbert said that shortly after the last election defeat, six or seven reformist MPs used to meet, including the three that recently quit to form their own party.

He said: "People were concerned that if we were to break from the UBP at the early stage Ewart Brown might call an election.

"Why do they think Ewart Brown might call an election one month after the General Election and not call one now?

"That same group who just broke away. They never called the individuals, myself, John (Barritt), and Trevor Moniz, and said come and join us.

"And then I get a call saying: 'We are thinking about you.'"

Suggesting he could win for the third party in Hamilton West, he said: "I don't need them. They need me."

Mr. Barritt — who is considering quitting the UBP to run as an Independent — was in the audience, as well as former UBP MP Jamahl Simmons.

Mr. Furbert said of Mr. Barritt: "This is the guy for the job now. For the third party, not for the UBP."

On his own political future, Mr. Furbert said: "Yes, I would consider joining the PLP, if the PLP want me.

"How can you find a way to work together in the community that eventually allows people to vote based on issues, not based on race. We have got to break that cycle.

"The PLP are not devils and the UBP are not devils."

Regarding joining Dr. Brown's Cabinet, Mr. Furbert said: "Yes. The reason why is because I'm serving the people of Bermuda, not Ewart Brown.

"Somebody has to be there to work for you. Could you imagine if every Cabinet Minister was to resign? It would be a fiasco."

The discussion, titled "Straight Talk: the truth sometimes hurts", had been kicked off by a half-hour long speech, in which Mr. Furbert outlined why he had to quit the UBP "for the good of my own sanity", and talked about issues including race, crime, conscription.