Former United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert would likely be welcomed into the Progressive Labour Party if he applied to join, PLP spokesman Wentworth Christopher said yesterday.

Describing the Hamilton West MP as a "good person", Mr. Christopher said he thought Mr. Furbert's time outside the UBP could have encouraged him to take a different perspective on issues, making it easier for him to complete a switch across the floor.

Mr. Furbert had told a public meeting on Wednesday night that he would consider joining the PLP if invited, less than a year after quitting the UBP in anger at its failure to reform.

Mr. Christopher told The Royal Gazette: "Recently we have been seeing new members and they are always welcome.

"Mr. Furbert put a qualifier there by saying he would join 'if invited', but anyone who applies would certainly be given consideration. I have no reason to believe anything to the contrary with Mr. Furbert. If he chooses to apply, I believe he would be welcomed."

Asked how easy it would be to accept a former Opposition leader who had opposed the PLP on many issues in the past, Mr. Christopher said: "It's not that easy, particularly if they are high-profile.

"But sometimes they are influenced for the better when they are associated with others. One would expect an individual to stick by their core principles; it may well be once in a different setting they see a different side to particular issues."

Yesterday, Mr. Furbert said his deadline for deciding whether to join the PLP is whenever the Premier calls an election — but he hopes to make his decision before then.

He said: "I would have no problem joining the PLP. I could take my same ethics and principles with me. I appreciate that they would welcome me, but my decision is still with Hamilton Parish."

Meanwhile the UBP yesterday hit back at comments Mr. Furbert made at Wednesday's event, his first constituency meeting since quitting the party last December to sit as an Independent.

Mr. Furbert had claimed Grant Gibbons controls leader Kim Swan and needs to resign; Mr. Swan didn't want anything to do with the UBP at the last election; and aspiring leader Bob Richards is a non-reformist who fought against change in the party.

A spokesman said: "Wayne Furbert continues to disparage his former colleagues as a way to hide and obscure his failure as leader of the United Bermuda Party.

"He has been doing so for more than a year now and it is getting old. It is nothing more than a self-serving exercise to position himself for re-election in Constituency 6.

"Every time he speaks, his purpose is to build himself up by tearing down others. Surely, this is hardly the 'New Bermuda' he and his ghost writer refer to.

"It would be very easy to get down in the gutter and throw mud back at Mr. Furbert, but what would that accomplish?

"The Bermuda public is sick of this kind of self-centred, self-focused politics. There are extremely serious issues facing the Country. People want the issues addressed and solutions worked out. That's what they elected us to do. It is long past time for Bermuda to dial back the politics of politicians and focus on the needs of the people."

Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley, whom Mr. Furbert claimed had told him he did not support as leader, added: "I have no comment to make in relation to what Mr. Furbert has said. Rather than get into a back and forth with a history of internal matters and one's personal interpretation of them I feel it is best to continue to work on behalf of the people of Bermuda and the many pressing issues we face during these challenging times."

Mr. Furbert responded: "The UBP is predictable. I predicted that's exactly what they would respond. But it shows me they are not concerned about reform, because if they read the speech it's clear I was talking about unity for Bermuda's people. Attacking me is not going to solve their problem."