Former United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert yesterday hinted he could stand as a Progressive Labour Party candidate in the next General Election.

Mr. Furbert — an Independent MP after quitting the UBP last December in anger over its failure to reform — confirmed he would not be running as an Independent next time the people go to the polls.

And after delivering another damning attack on the Opposition, which is down to 12 MPs following the resignation of Darius Tucker this week, it seems unlikely he will rejoin his former party any time soon.

His other option would be to join any third party which many people hope will emerge from disgruntled members of the public from both sides of the political divide.

Political activist Khalid Wasi, who has repeatedly tried but failed to garner support for a third party, yesterday again led the calls for a new alternative to the PLP or UBP.

But Mr. Wasi said the chances of such a move would likely hinge on backbenchers who, despite being angry with the way Premier Ewart Brown is running the Country, seemed to put party loyalty above everything else.

Asked whether he would consider joining a third party, Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette: "I don't want to say that. I will not run as an Independent in the next election. Everything to me is timing."

He would not comment further on his long-term political plans, but praised the PLP's togetherness and lambasted the UBP's lack of unity.

The Opposition's motion of no confidence against Dr. Brown's Government failed by 22 votes to 11 last week.

Despite front and backbenchers strongly criticising the Premier during a 14-hour debate, all PLP MPs voted along party lines in support of his Government; meanwhile Mark Pettingill of the UBP abstained and Mr. Tucker went to the coffee room instead of voting.

Mr. Furbert also pointed to a list of people who have quit the UBP in recent years, including Jamahl Simmons and Gwyneth Rawlins.

Explaining why he believes the PLP gets more loyalty, he said: "The PLP have something to fight for. With the United Bermuda Party there's no vision. They have nothing to hold onto other than memories."

He said UBP leader Kim Swan was trying to lure him back, but that Mr. Swan was "stuck in reverse" by spending too much time looking up to characters from the past such as Ralph Marshall and Harry Viera.

"There's an unhealthy relationship in that room right now. Who's next? That party is dying. The medicine they are giving it is not working," he said.

Former PLP Senator Davida Morris, 28, has said many young people want a new party because they are sick of the PLP's constant use of the race card and censorship of free speech.

Her comments were echoed by a young speaker at Friday's anti-Ewart Brown rally, to large applause from the crowd.

But Mr. Wasi won just 24 votes as an Independent in last December's Southampton West Central by-election, as the public voted overwhelmingly for the UBP or PLP.

He said this helped convince him change would have to come from within the House of Assembly; and the emergence of a new party would depend on angry backbenchers who have frequently criticised the Premier.

"There's a need for a new organisation just as there was in the 60s and 70s, when there was a movement. Now the aim is democratise," said Mr. Wasi.

"Bermuda needs a new organisation that would effectively be somewhat of an alliance. The goal would be to bring Bermuda together, to get the Country engaged in dialogue about a better way forward in terms of governance.

"It would be an interim alliance which takes the Country forward and brings it together. Right now, the Country is polarised; people are depressed; there's a sadness.

"I would hope we have Members of Parliament that would want those ideals. But people seem to be more committed to their party."

Regarding PLP MPs who fiercely criticised Dr. Brown but voted against the motion of no confidence, Mr. Wasi said: "They lacked the ability to lead. If they had any strength at all they could name one of themselves and move forward with that.

"But they don't have any strength and have to remain on the backbench and allow the Country to remain the way it is."

Twenty-year-old Wayne Ball Jr. spoke about the need for a new party at Friday's demonstration at the House.

His speech drew large applause when he said: "We need to see a new party created with members from both parties as there are good members and new fresh faces. A party that will move on from the issues of the past and move on to the future, a fresh start."

Regarding the rallies since Dr. Brown provoked anger through his handling of the Guantánamo Bay affair, Mr. Ball said: "Now people feel they have a voice and can speak out.

"And I tell my fellow young Bermudians we need to because there will be a time when we are sitting in these seats as MPs and we need to get more involved in politics."