The One Bermuda Alliance and Progressive Labour Party are both unfit to lead the country because of their infighting, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

All four of Bermuda’s leading politicians were also widely chastised for their lack of transparency, unity and trust, in our survey into registered voters’ assessment of their elected representatives.

Asked whether either the OBA or PLP have had too much internal strife to run the country, more than half replied that both of them have. Another quarter pointed the finger at just one of the parties, with the remaining 15 per cent saying they don’t know. Out of 402 people quizzed, not one thought that both parties had enough harmony to govern.

Asked to choose which out of Michael Dunkley, Marc Bean, Bob Richards and David Burt they rate best on transparency, unity or trust, easily the most popular response from the public was none of them.

Asked to choose between the OBA or PLP on the same question, the leading answer was neither.

The telephone poll by Global Research took place between September 6 and 12, and has a margin error of +/- 5 per cent.

Both political parties have been rocked by high-profile internal squabbling and resignations in the past few months. Former tourism minister Shawn Crockwell quit the OBA in March, as it faced public protests over its immigration policy; backbencher Mark Pettingill also publicly threatened to resign with others reportedly split over party issues.

Meanwhile, seven members of the Shadow Cabinet quit amid a storm of anger over Opposition leader Mr Bean’s leadership style late last year, with rumours of takeover bids continuing to linger.

In our survey, 57 per cent of people said both the OBA and PLP had too much infighting and resignations to govern Bermuda; 15 per cent of people, mainly blacks, said only the OBA has had too much infighting; 13 per cent of people, mainly whites, said only the PLP has had too much infighting.

We asked voters which of the four leading politicians they most associate with confidence, transparency, unity and trust.

On transparency, Mr Dunkley, the Premier, scored 22 per cent; Mr Burt, the deputy leader of the PLP, 19 per cent; Mr Bean 14 per cent; and Mr Richards, the Deputy Premier, 11 per cent. However, the most popular answer was none of them, with 34 per cent.

On unity, Mr Burt achieved 23 per cent, followed by Mr Dunkley 20 per cent, Mr Bean 16 per cent and Mr Richards 6 per cent. Again the top response was none, with 35 per cent.

On trust, Mr Dunkley claimed 24 per cent, followed by Mr Burt 19 per cent, Mr Bean 15 per cent and Mr Richards 12 per cent. The most common answer was none, with 30 per cent.

The politicians did slightly better on confidence, with Mr Dunkley coming out on top with 23 per cent, followed by Mr Burt 20 per cent, Mr Bean 19 per cent, Mr Richards 19 per cent and none 19 per cent.

Out of the parties, the OBA outscored the PLP on confidence, transparency and trust, with the PLP winning on unity — but neither remained the most popular answer on three of the attributes.

On confidence, the OBA scored 39 per cent and the PLP 34 per cent, with 27 per cent saying neither.

On transparency, the OBA scored 28 per cent, the PLP 25 per cent, and neither 47 per cent.

On unity, the PLP scored 34 per cent, the OBA 22 per cent, and neither 44 per cent. On trust, the OBA scored 32 per cent, the PLP 29 per cent, and neither 39 per cent.