Two branch chairs are understood to have quit the United Bermuda Party yesterday in support of their MPs Shawn Crockwell and Mark Pettingill's bid to start a new party.

Departures from Mr. Crockwell's Pembroke West constituency — a UBP stronghold — are thought to also include the deputy chair and three other branch members.

The branch chair for the third MP behind the new party, Donte Hunt, is off the Island but is understood to have indicated support for the initiative.

Names for the departing branch members could not be confirmed last night.

Sources connected to the UBP say branch activity has been next to nothing in the whole of Sandys and parts of Southampton in recent months, with active members across the Island dropping off since the General Election defeat of December 2007.

The party did not respond to requests for information on how many branches are still operating around the Country, and how many chairs remain in place.

Just nine UBP MPs remain, while a Senator also has to be found to replace Michael Fahy, who resigned along with the three MPs, party chairman Sean Pitcher and adopted candidate Wayne Scott on Sunday night.

Leader Kim Swan rounded his remaining troops for a press conference yesterday and insisted that his party is committed to change.

But virtually all the Opposition MPs who pushed for reform are no longer there — Wayne Furbert and Darius Tucker both left within the past year — leaving 52-year-old Mr. Swan as the youngest remaining MP.

Asked who was going to lead the internal call for the party to remodel itself now, Mr. Swan told The Royal Gazette: "I'm advocate number one who will ensure that it happens for the betterment of this party and the service of this community."

On change, he told the press conference: "We have been addressing this issue, to some not fast enough.

"We will be looking certainly at our constitution and make sure we can become a party that represents all in the community."

Defectors said reform needed to include removing some older party members, whom they claim represent a legacy which had failed in successive elections.

Mr. Swan argued yesterday: "These resignations came about over differences on changes the party must make to win the Government again and get this country back on track.

"That they happened is extremely disappointing because all of us agreed on the need for change, just not on the details of change.

"While I recognise and understand the frustrations that played a part in this, the fact is that we were moving toward common ground.

"Things began to unravel over the insistence that some of our strongest advocates step down from their seats because, it was argued, they did not present the right faces to Bermuda.

"But these were the very people who were performing strongly for the party. They were the people who showed up each day to do the work, who carried the load on a host of major issues week in and week out.

"The call for their resignations seemed to harden into an ultimatum and it was this I could not agree to.

"In effect, they wanted me, as party leader, to break the social contract that exists between voters and their duly elected representatives, to erase the voter decision that elected them less than two years ago.

"This to me was fundamentally wrong. I saw it as anti-democratic. I could not agree to it. So here we are."

Mr. Swan announced a shuffle in portfolios, with deputy chair Jeff Sousa taking over as chairman on an interim basis. The UBP's past five chairmen have all quit the party — Mr. Pitcher, Mr. Fahy, Mr. Crockwell, Gwyneth Rawlins and Mr. Furbert.

Sen. Michael Dunkley takes on Mr. Crockwell's Shadow Labour and Home Affairs duties, giving responsibilities for Tourism and Transport back to Mr. Swan.

Mr. Swan said of the dwindling numbers: "I am not going to put a gloss on yesterday's resignations. Of course they hurt. Our numbers are suddenly down. People in the community — our supporters — are rightfully concerned."

However he vowed that the party would bounce back and said: "We can do great things with small numbers.

"I waited a long time to serve this Country officially as an MP. I'm standing behind people who I have a great deal of faith in. We have a community out there that needs service.

"We are going to work together and we are going to spread that love."

Earlier yesterday, the new party gathered for its first press conference inside the House of Assembly. No name has yet been announced, although a possible clue was dropped as the politicians repeatedly stated they were hoping to provide Bermuda with a "better way".

Mr. Crockwell told the media: "We intend on offering Bermuda a better way with a new vision."

Mr. Scott said: "We believe that whilst we may not have as much political experience as others, we are willing to take that risk and are confident that others will join our call for a better way."

The group has stated they want to take the racial polarisation out of Bermuda politics and have announced their manifesto is for equal opportunity, social justice, security and fiscal conservatism.

They have so far refused to reveal further details of their manifesto but more information is expected to be released in the coming days, as well as the identities of the community members who have pledged support.