Bob Richards' attempt to oust Kim Swan as leader of the United Bermuda Party might not happen until Christmas, Deputy United Bermuda Party Leader Trevor Moniz said yesterday.

Mr. Moniz said the UBP is now facing a race against time to get the matter sorted before Parliament reopens next Friday — with the likely Plan B being to wait until the festive break.

Changes to the Opposition's constitution mean grassroots members and not just MPs are now allowed a say in the leadership contest, but it's believed that with the process being widened out it will be more difficult to rush a decision through.

Mr. Moniz said ideally the party would like to know who its long-term leader is within the next ten days to avoid any "bunfighting" in the House of Assembly. However, he insisted he is confident Mr. Swan and Mr. Richards would be able to work together even with a pending leadership battle hanging over them.

"It's not the most comfortable situation," he told The Royal Gazette yesterday. But it's perfectly doable; it's worked pretty well so far. Bob has been straight up about his leadership challenge. Bob and Kim have a good relationship considering everything that's been going on."

"I think it can work. A lot of the things we do are collaborative in nature; people have their chance to have their say."

He said the Progressive Labour Party went through a similar period after then-Deputy Premier Ewart Brown's plan to oust Alex Scott as Premier was outed by Renee Webb three years ago. Mr. Richards and Mr. Swan have both stated their ambitions to answer the UBP's critics by pushing through reform — but both have recently been characterised as non-reformists.

Mr. Moniz said yesterday: "Both Kim Swan and Bob Richards were until recently firmly members of the conservative wing of the United Bermuda Party in a very broad sense.

"They were not supporters of substantial and fundamental change. The only two members left in the group who were reformists are myself and John Barritt. Bob is saying: 'I have changed.'"

A month ago, Mr. Moniz accused Mr. Swan of allowing young MPs to quit the party by stonewalling their calls for reform.

Asked if Mr. Swan had changed his approach since then, Mr. Moniz said yesterday: "The jury is out for me on both of them (Mr. Swan and Mr. Richards). I just don't know the answer to that."

Mr. Moniz said it was impossible to tell who would win the leadership battle, but noted Mr. Swan is carrying a burden of poor poll results and as leader has failed to make progress with the party.

Regarding his own future, Mr. Moniz reiterated that he would consider leaving to become an Independent MP, but stressed that would only happen if many options for a way forward with the UBP were exhausted. Mr. Barritt says he has his options under review, which could include leaving the UBP.