Robert King was sworn in as the new Leader of the Opposition in a ceremony at Government House this afternoon.

Mr King, who was named the new leader of the One Bermuda Alliance on Saturday, said he was “deeply honoured” to be elected to the post and pledged to serve Bermuda to the best of his ability.

“This is both a privilege and a solemn responsibility,” he said. “I am humbled to lead this team of parliamentarians, all of whom bring wisdom, dedication and experience.

“This responsibility does not rest on my shoulders alone. It belongs to all of us.

“I look forward to your counsel, the benefit of your wisdom and your support as we do the important work.

“Together, we must continue to be the sort of principled Opposition that Bermuda deserves, an Opposition that not only holds the Government to account but also offers solutions and a vision for a better Bermuda, a team that works tirelessly, not just to oppose but to prepare to govern.”

Mr King said he was confident that the OBA would continue to grow, attracting new members, new voices and new energy.

“We will be setting out a clear plan rooted in fairness, opportunity and integrity,” he said.

“We will continue to listen to the urgent priorities of Bermudians, as they are our priorities too.”

Mr King said that the island was in crisis and that the OBA must “embrace the urgency of now”. He added that he believed he had the right team to act with courage and conviction.

He told The Royal Gazette that he was optimistic he could lead the party back into power.

“It’s about how we work together and the recipe to get us to the Government,” he added.

Mr King said his predecessor, Jarion Richardson, had done an excellent job getting the party “off life support” but work was needed to take the OBA to the next level.

He referenced his 100-day plan, which he said would help to strengthen the team and ensure that candidates were well informed of the issues faced by the community and involved in community projects.

“Basically, it’s not just appearing for photo ops in the run-up to an election,” he said. “We need to make meaningful inroads and have a robust and effective communication strategy.

“We have been accused of not being vocal enough and we are going to address it, but we are not going to be gratuitous.

“What we say matters, what we are going to do matters.

“There are going to be timelines, there are going to be performance targets.

“It’s not going to be just trying to sell something. It’s going to be strategic and the public will be informed every step of the way about it.”

Mr King also added that changes would be coming to the Shadow Cabinet, with announcements expected in the near future.

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, said that he enjoyed working with Mr Richardson and looked forward to working alongside Mr King.

“The role of the Opposition leader is critical to the parliamentary and democratic process of Bermuda and I wish Mr King well in carrying out his duties,” he said.

Mr King was elected to the House of Assembly during a by-election in Smith’s North in May 2024 and retained the seat in the General Election this year.

He threw his name in the ring to succeed Mr Richardson and defeated Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, in a vote at the OBA’s annual conference.