The six men who quit the United Bermuda Party to form their own party will not be going back — no matter what promises future leader hopeful Bob Richards makes.

Former UBP Senator Michael Fahy said the breakaway politicians are determined to continue along their own path despite Mr. Richards' insistence that he will try to reunite them with the official Opposition if he takes over from Kim Swan as leader.

"We have an exciting opportunity right now to be a part of something that will truly guide and push political reform and assure policies that benefit all," Mr. Fahy told The Royal Gazette in a statement yesterday.

"We do not believe that the current political parties can do that. To be absolutely clear, none of the ex-UBPers will be returning to the fold of the UBP, no matter who becomes leader of the UBP and no matter what changes they say they can make."

Mr. Richards, who intends to challenge Mr. Swan as leader as soon as the UBP's constitution will allow him, had said in this newspaper yesterday: "I would love for them (the defectors) to come back. I certainly would put in a plan to seriously look at a lot of those things that they wanted to do."

Mr. Fahy quit the UBP last month along with MPs Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill, chairman Sean Pitcher and former election candidate Wayne Scott.

They complained the UBP had ignored their calls for reform, and said they planned to launch their own party with a manifesto of equal opportunity, social justice, security and fiscal conservatism, with the aim of removing racial division out of politics. Since then they have given away little information about their plans, with no party name revealed and the identities of the people behind them kept under wraps, although they are said to have received major pledges of financial support.

Yesterday, Mr. Fahy said scores of potential supporters from all backgrounds had attended meetings organised by the group. He also said for the first time that the party's manifesto would also focus on the environment and transparency.

"We have made incredible strides in less than a month in helping lay the foundation for a better way of doing politics in Bermuda," stated Mr. Fahy.

"Scores of people from across the political, racial, economic and class divide have attended meetings to bring about real change for all in Bermuda. There is much more to do and more to come. The movement is based on a vision and a way that will reject the use of race or class as a means to political success.

"A way that will reject all forms of corruption in political and public life. A way that will be the leader in responsible and open government. A way that will make Bermuda relevant for all Bermudians.

"The people who believe in this better way want to provide the people of Bermuda with a Government that stands for equality of opportunity, social and economic justice, fiscal responsibility, security and safety, environmental sustainability, transparency, honesty and fairness in government for the benefit of all of Bermuda's people.

"This movement of which the ex-UBP members are merely a part of is exciting and progressive. The values and principles of this movement are universal in scope and we all truly believe that by adhering to the vision a better way can be forged."

The breakaway MPs have previously said they will sit as independents until the new party is officially launched, but they are said to be hopeful that can happen before the House of Assembly reopens next month.