Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown has launched a bid for the leadership of the Opposition Progressive Labour Party.

Mr Brown confirmed he will challenge current leader Marc Bean at the PLP’s Annual Delegates’ Conference next month.

In a statement yesterday afternoon Mr Brown said: “I can confirm that I have submitted to the secretary general of the Progressive Labour Party that I intend to seek the position of party leader when the position becomes vacant at the Annual Delegates Conference next month.

“I have also informed party leader Marc Bean and chairman Maynard Dill of my intentions. Over the next few weeks my goal is to meet with the party branches and share my vision for the PLP going forward.”

Former Bermuda College lecturer Mr Brown was first elected to Parliament at the December 2012 general election, winning the PLP stronghold of Pembroke Central by just six votes over Andrew Simons of the One Bermuda Alliance.

He served as the Opposition’s spokesman on Education in Mr Bean’s first Shadow Cabinet, but was moved to Immigration and External Affairs in April’s reshuffle.

Mr Bean took over the leadership of the party just days after the last general election, which saw then-party leader and Premier Paula Cox lose her seat.

He romped to victory in a two-horse race against party veteran Terry Lister, by 111 votes to 35.

Mr Bean’s victory was hailed as an indication that the PLP recognised a need for a change in personnel after 14 years in Government, and that younger MPs possessed “a new energy and passion that will carry us forward”.

At last year’s party conference, Mr Bean said the PLP had lost power because it had “lost touch with the people who put their faith in us”.

But he urged party members not to spend its time in opposition “senselessly infighting”.

Yesterday, former PLP Premier Alex Scott denied that Mr Brown’s challenge suggested a split in the party or dissatisfaction with Mr Bean’s style of leadership.

“It keeps the party machinery and the party on its toes and doesn’t necessarily reflect against the current leader or the challenger,” Mr Scott said.

“It just says that the democratic process is a vibrant one and a robust one. It shows that there’s a keen interest in the party at all levels. If nobody was interested in the leadership that would suggest that the current leader is generating a vibrant party capable of challenging the Government at the next general election.”