King announces 100-day leadership plan
A One Bermuda Alliance MP has vowed to strengthen the party and host monthly forums, should he be elected Opposition leader this week.
Robert King, MP for Smith’s North (Constituency 10) and Shadow Minister of National Security, the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said he would also ensure the OBA had the strategy and volunteers in place to build a winning campaign and return to the Government.
Mr King outlined the mission for his first 100 days as Opposition leader on his website.
The message said: “Our team will begin a series of public town hall meetings across the island, with remote options available for those who cannot attend in-person.
“I will host a monthly open house from the Opposition leader’s office for direct access to raise concerns, ask questions and share ideas.
“I will travel to meet our members directly, where they are, in their community.”
Mr King said these meetings, community organisations, policy experts and academics will “shape our political strategy and the policy road map for the road ahead”.
Mr King will challenge fellow MP Ben Smith, Deputy OBA leader and Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, for party leadership during its annual meeting this Saturday.
Mr King said the OBA would establish a youth wing and women’s commission as a way to form new ideas and perspectives within the party.
He explained: “We must recruit, inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders so that the entire OBA team — our candidates, staff and volunteers — are campaign-ready the moment the next election is called.”
Mr King also said the party would launch a new communications strategy to ensure solutions were ”not just announced but heard, understood and remembered, and not just lost after a single day’s headlines”.
He said the next election would not be won through empty promises, but “through hard work on the doorsteps and earning the confidence of the Bermudian people”.
He concluded: “With your support, I will stand with courage, lead with conviction and deliver the determined leadership Bermuda deserves”.
Mr King was elected to the House of Assembly during a by-election in May 2024 and retained the seat in the General Election this year.
He told The Royal Gazette last month: “I’ve not been in politics so long that I’ve fallen into the mindset that ‘this is good enough, we’ve won a few seats’. No.”
Mr King and Mr Smith unveiled their bids for the OBA leadership weeks after Jarion Richardson announced his intention to step down from the role.
• Visitrobertkingmp.com to learn more or contact Mr King at rking@oba.bm or 737-8813