Progressive Labour Party MP Zane DeSilva has firmly denied rumours he is intent on becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

“I never put myself up for leadership — it’s not on my agenda to do so,” Mr DeSilva said when contacted by The Royal Gazette.

He quit the Shadow Cabinet this month, publicly stating he could no longer serve under Marc Bean.

However, the Southampton East MP rebutted rumours that Ewart Brown, the former Premier, had backed him as a replacement for Mr Bean.

“These things are being put out there; I am hearing it too,” Mr DeSilva said. “This thing about Dr Brown orchestrating or deciding it should be me, it’s not correct.”

Mr DeSilva, the former Shadow Minister of Tourism, was absent from the later portion of a PLP central committee meeting this month, during which Mr Bean was said to have accused Dr Brown of being in league with Michael Dunkley, the Premier, to topple him as leader.

“I don’t know what he is supposed to have said at the meeting, that Dr Brown was orchestrating the demise of Marc Bean,” Mr DeSilva said.

“Michael Dunkley said it well last week when he said it gave new meaning to the word ‘fantasy’.”