Robert King, the Leader of the Opposition, has come under pressure from his fellow MPs to step down, The Royal Gazette has learnt.

But the Smith’s North MP, who was chosen by party members to be leader of the One Bermuda Alliance only six months ago, is understood to be determined to stay in his post.

He has received support from his constituency, with a spokeswoman confirming he will not resign and demanding that the full party membership be asked to determine who should lead them, rather than it being left to MPs.

The spokeswoman said she had been told that seven OBA MPs have expressed no confidence in Mr King’s performance as Opposition leader.

However, she said: “Mr King was voted in and won free and fair elections.

“The people, the members of the OBA, voted for him as Opposition leader.

“The party members need to know what is happening.”

She said Mr King “did a lot of good” and brought “hope” to residents as an MP, adding that a leadership divide did not bode well for the OBA.

Mr King was elected leader by party members in September, edging Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of Education, for the post.

He succeeded Jarion Richardson, who announced he intended to resign last July.

One OBA source said yesterday afternoon that the situation remained fluid, with the outcome unknown in terms of Mr King's response to the show of discontent.

An OBA party insider said last night: “The membership chooses the leader and that's who the leader should be.

“It should not be up to a group, a handful of members who, for whatever reason, want to put Ben Smith or whoever at the head.

“How would that make the party look?”

The source claimed that to remove the incumbent leader and introduce another, at the wishes of a small number of members, could be “catastrophic” for the party.

The insider said: “These MPs do not own the OBA. It's for the membership to decide who they want to lead.”

The move by the seven MPs, who include Mr Smith, poses a challenge for the party and for the Governor.

Under the Bermuda Constitution, the Governor is required to appoint the leader of the opposition party that has the largest number of MPs to be Opposition leader. But if a majority of OBA MPs informed him that they did not support Mr King, the OBA leader would be unable to be Opposition leader. The Governor would be required to use his discretion to determine which MP had the support of the largest group of MPs on the Opposition benches.

However, Mr King, if he chose to remain, would still be leader of the OBA by virtue of the members’ vote. Removing him would require either a vote of the full membership of the OBA after a no-confidence vote by the OBA caucus or a no-confidence vote by two thirds of the party’s MPs, endorsed by the caucus.

The caucus is made up of the party executive, OBA MPs, OBA senators, regional chairs, adopted candidates and approved candidates.

It is not clear if the seven MPs are enough to make up two thirds of the votes required to remove Mr King. If Mr King is allowed a vote, eight votes would be needed to unseat him. But if he is not permitted to vote, it would require seven.

A further wrinkle lies in the need to give 14 days notice of the special party conference, which would have to be held to choose a leader. The Governor would need to be certain that the Opposition leader had the support of a majority of opposition party MPs in time for the resumption of the House of Assembly on February 20, when the Budget will be presented.

That means notice of a special conference would have to be given almost immediately.

Mr King’s selection in September followed a campaign in which he announced plans to strengthen the party and host monthly forums.

On assuming the role, he said he would ensure that the OBA had the strategy and volunteers in place to build a winning campaign and return to government.

He said the meetings, community organisations, policy experts and academics will “shape our political strategy and the policy road map for the road ahead”.

On being sworn in, Mr King 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.”