Any MP hoping to succeed Premier Ewart Brown must declare their intentions by May 1, if proposed changes to Progressive Labour Party rules are passed tonight.

Party reformers say they want to ensure voters get plenty of time to assess leadership candidates before Dr. Brown steps down at a delegates conference in October.

It would force likely replacement Paula Cox — whom many say is lined up for a coronation but has kept her cards close to her chest in recent weeks — into showing her hand far earlier than expected.

And backbencher Dale Butler would have just weeks to decide whether he can muster enough support from grassroots members he believes oppose his liberal views.

Other possibilities such as Terry Lister and Derrick Burgess — both rumoured to be interested but neither of whom have confirmed their position — would also be smoked out under the proposals being debated by delegates at Alaska Hall tonight.

Currently under the PLP constitution, anyone planning a leadership or deputy leadership bid has to make their application 21 days before the delegates conference — and in some circumstances are able to leave it even later.

But a proposed amendment means they would have to put themselves forward more than five months before the existing Premier's term ends.

If the plan is rubber-stamped this evening, the constitution will read: "Candidates for the office of party leader or deputy leader must submit their intention in writing to the executive committee by May 1 in the expiration year of the relevant post-holder."

The document outlining the proposal explains: "As the two most important positions within the party a notice period should be mandatory.

"Setting it at May 1 provides sufficient time for candidates to be assessed by prospective voters; and it will allow for a smoother transition of leadership, facilitating the retention of public confidence in our party."

Possible amendments over the way election candidates are selected are likely to attract the liveliest discussion at tonight's meeting, which is a reconvening of last October's delegates conference.

There is currently no codification in place over candidate selection in the PLP constitution; the changes would mean the party creates a list of approved candidates, each of whom can put themselves forward for selection in whichever branch they want.

Midway through a term, branch members would then vote for whomever they want to represent them at the next General Election.

The move is designed to root out underperforming MPs accused of taking their safe seat for granted and has been described as a midterm assessment by research and platform chairman Senator Walton Brown.

It would also remove allegations of political interference, such as when Randy Horton was picked ahead of Marc Bean despite the latter getting the support of the Southampton West branch before the last election.

Some in the PLP have suggested Dr. Brown wants certain MPs out of their seats because they have criticised his leadership style; although reformists insist the Premier has played no part in drawing up the proposals.

One party member said yesterday: "I look forward to seeing what arguments sitting MPs are going to make against a move to let branch members decide who represents them."

If the proposed changes are accepted, branches will be required to select their candidates within 30 months of the last General Election — meaning the PLP will have its full slate of candidates by mid-June.