Junior Labour Minister Walter Roban last night implied PLP plotters had resorted to "skulduggery" and "chicanery" in the way they tried to oust Ewart Brown as Premier.

After backbenchers Wayne Perinchief, Randy Horton and Alex Scott tried to launch a motion on the leadership, Mr. Roban and Dame Jennifer Smith had argued that the question of leadership can only be decided by the wider party membership at a delegates conference.

But their intervention at Wednesday night's PLP caucus left anti-Brown MPs fuming following what they thought was a done deal to remove Dr. Brown and pave the way for Paula Cox.

Mr. Roban argued no names had been brought up at the meeting nor had anyone come forward since as a replacement to Dr. Brown.

"My efforts were in support of the rules."

He said Dr. Brown remained the elected leader through an open democratic process and had successfully led the party to an election victory.

"I support him until such time as an alternative is put forward I can consider otherwise. Until that time I am happy to support the duly elected leader.

"But follow the rules, don't be full of skulduggery, full of chicanery and full of back door tactics to take advantage.

"My view is those gentlemen last night seemingly once again, because they have been part of this type of thing before, have tried to take the rights of the people the rank and file of the PLP away.

"They have been part of such efforts before and that speaks to their own intent and character."

In 2002 PLP MPs had tried to oust Jennifer Smith but there was a tied vote and they had then forced the issue right after the 2003 election.

Mr. Roban said Mr. Perinchief had also tried to exclude Senators from any vote on leadership at the caucus meeting.

"The only motion on the floor was for us to have a discussion on leadership which would result in a recommendation, possibly to the party. That motion was defeated."

He said Michael Scott then put forward a motion to have a leadership discussion at the next caucus with all members present but without any decisive vote.

And Mr. Roban denied claims Wednesday's meeting was only about half full. "There were only about six or seven not there."

Some plotters fear Dame Jennifer Smith was planning a comeback herself for top office while others believe she has formed a temporary alliance with Dr. Brown, propping him up in return for securing the Speakership of the House of Assembly.

But one senior party source claimed any notion of another Dame Jennifer Premiership was "delusional spiteful and jealous".

Mr. Roban would not be drawn on Dame Jennifer's future but said both he and Dame Jennifer were keen that the party stick to the rules in selecting leaders.

But one anti-Brown MP said the precedent of MPs ousting Premiers and PLP leaders had been set with the ousting of Jennifer Smith, led in part by Dr. Brown.

"What goes around comes around. It might not happen next week but this is the beginning of the end for him. It's irreversible."

Another anti-Brown party source predicted the PLP leadership crisis would not be resolved anytime soon, and Dr. Brown will pull out all the stops to cling to power.

While Paula Cox is still being tipped as the most possible successor, her failure to come forward so far has led to disillusion and other names being mentioned including Randy Horton and Terry Lister.

The Premier's allies were yesterday said to be working hard in shoring up support among MPs and key party figures in anticipation of any future vote.