Old guard United Bermuda Party politicians need to step aside because they represent the legacy which plunged the UBP to defeat at the last General Election, according to a survey commisssioned by the party.

Younger faces within the party, such as Shawn Crockwell and Donte Hunt, get more support with voters who appreciate they worked hard to get in, the poll showed.

It also revealed most people would not choose Kim Swan as leader and were even unaware that Trevor Moniz was his deputy.

Older politicians include former leader Grant Gibbons, John Barritt and Mr. Moniz, who were MPs when the UBP was in Government more than a decade ago, and long-serving Shadow Ministers Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and Louise Jackson.

Meanwhile, the UBP's failure to tackle the race card and black Bermudians' refusal to give up on a black party were also outlined as two of the reasons for the PLP's victory in the 2007 election.

The findings are from a series of focus group meetings, comprising about 60 people of varying age, sex and race, carried out by Research.bm. It was commissioned by the Opposition as it responds to demands for reform from critics who claim it's no longer viable.

The research took place in May, and the findings are currently being discussed by the UBP. Survey results — some of which have been obtained by The Royal Gazette — show people want to see younger members at the forefront of the party because they:

• are not associated with the legacy of the UBP;

• represent change and show a commitment to moving the party forward;

• can attract black, blue collar workers;

• are more in tune with the concerns of younger voters.

Voters also said the younger UBP members are stronger than their Progressive Labour Party counterparts — with no Government MPs under the age of 40 and PLP chairman David Burt expressing frustration at the lack of opportunities for young politicians to break through in his party. They suggested older UBP members could instead use their political experience in the Senate or behind the scenes.

The UBP lost its third successive election in 2007 and has since lost party quitters Wayne Furbert and Darius Tucker, meaning it only has 12 MPs left to the PLP's 22.

According to the UBP-commissioned research, the party lost the last election because of:

• the legacy of the party;

l its failure to tackle the race card;

• poor branding;

• lack of focus and creativity;

• inherited voting habit;

• black Bermudians not ready to give up on a black party;

• PLP challenged voters to show loyalty and connected better with young people.

Respondents also said their ideal political party would have a charismatic, intelligent, trustworthy and visionary leader; honest, educated, responsible and impartial candidates; and an agenda addressing crime, race, education and housing.

The UBP suffered its latest blow last month with its failed motion of no confidence in Premier Ewart Brown's Government — with a host of PLP front and backbenchers taking turns to vociferously criticise Dr. Brown but then voting against the motion. Mr. Tucker and then-Shadow Attorney General Mark Pettingill also refused to support it.

Former UBP candidate Christian Dunleavy spoke to this newspaper earlier this week, before the poll results were known.

Explaining why he quit the UBP and thinks it should make way for a new party, Mr. Dunleavy said: "My personal observations are that at a membership and branch level support has just evaporated as it appears to be a lost cause.

"I would hazard the opinion that the UBP would struggle to put out a full complement of candidates if an election were called. That could be a good thing as independents and third party candidates can flourish.

"The UBP have allowed themselves to be stigmatised to the extent that they cannot recover in the short term. And quite frankly, we should put country above parties.

"That means acknowledging that the UBP is a spent force and the PLP an artifact of a terrible era that can't move us forward together.

"The UBP should not be ashamed of what they did for Bermuda. The PLP are the current beneficiaries, not the architects, of Bermuda's success. But it's time for something new to move us forward again.

"The PLP love having the UBP around to be their foils. I suspect they wouldn't know what to say if they couldn't form every sentence with 'UBP, white, oligarchy, 400 years, combined opposition, aristocracy etc'."