Last night’s closed central committee meeting lasted several hours at the Progressive Labour Party headquarters, over an internal party dispute following changes to membership rules — proposed by David Burt — that ended up in court on Friday.

Any resolution to the issue, tied to a leadership contest that has sparked contention within the party ranks for two weeks, appeared in doubt as the night wore on.

The PLP leader and Premier refused to comment on the four-hour long meeting as he departed, repeatedly saying: “We do not discuss internal party matters.”

Mr Burt sent a Labour Day message to all members on Monday morning, urging them to stay united and alerting them to the meeting to discuss the legal action launched against the PLP’s executive last week, declaring himself “saddened” by the move.

The party meeting, according to a notice seen by The Royal Gazette, was to discuss “sensitive legal matters” relating to the litigation, which was launched by party leadership contender Curtis Dickinson and four others.

It was understood that Mr Dickinson, who was outside Alaska Hall with a vocal group of supporters last night, had been invited to attend a portion of the meeting.

Mr Burt arrived shortly after 7pm, with Mr Dickinson entering the building an hour later, although supporters said he was unable to get admitted to the meeting itself or to address it. Mr Dickinson left the scene just before 9pm.

Mr Dickinson, a government backbencher, claimed an August 24 central committee decision to adopt Mr Burt’s motion to stop people who publicly campaigned against the party in the past two general elections from automatically becoming members went against the PLP constitution.

It has been reported that a further motion was adopted, meaning only members who have been in the party for at least a year can serve as delegates and vote in the leadership election next month, when the party will choose between Mr Dickinson and economy and labour minister Jason Hayward for the top job.

Mr Dickinson and his fellow plaintiffs, represented by Delroy Duncan KC, obtained an interim injunction in the Supreme Court last Friday to stop the membership changes coming into effect, with the case set for mention tomorrow.

Mr Hayward was inside Alaska Hall shortly after the headquarters opened to attendees, which included Zane DeSilva, the Deputy Premier. Others at the scene included government MP Renée Ming, former government MP Wayne Caines and party officials.

Earlier, Mr Burt wrote: “It pains me deeply to see a party that I have had the honour of leading to three election victories at risk of tearing itself apart as we choose the member who will succeed me.

“This should be a moment of renewal for the PLP, not division. I am saddened that this disagreement has reached the court.”

The PLP is represented in the matter by Mark Pettingill, a former One Bermuda Alliance MP and attorney-general.

In his Labour Day message, Mr Burt wrote that he welcomed “new members, new ideas and more hands to do the work in our branches and communities”.

He said the central committee’s August 24 decisions “sought to balance that growth with reasonable standards for those serving as delegates or in party office, keeping the PLP rooted in the aims of our constitution”.

The Premier claimed to have “remained neutral in this leadership election” and pledged to “continue to do so because my responsibility is to the whole party”.

However, he is widely seen as being supportive of Mr Hayward as his successor.

The legal action lists PLP chairwoman Dawn Simmons and secretary Patricia Basden as respondents. Mr Burt wrote that his “heart went out” to the “dedicated officers”.

“Costs have been sought against them, leaving them potentially facing an order to pay legal costs,” he added “They should not carry this burden alone.”

He wrote that the central committee meeting last night would confirm support for party officers and “decide the next steps” for the PLP.

“I will work with the central committee, as we defend the party’s position, while respecting the court’s directions,” wrote the Premier.

“Sadly, resources needed for our branches, our communities and preparation for a future General Election will now be spent defending our party officers.”

A statement released on Friday by Mr Dickinson’s campaign team, understood to be from the former finance minister himself, said the court action was necessary because the new membership process was “contrary to our constitution” and internal efforts to resolve the matter had failed.

It insisted the litigation was “not an attack on our party or its officers” and that those “named in the action are named solely because of the offices they hold”.

A PLP member, who asked not to be named, said yesterday that some members were not happy that the meeting was restricted to the central committee which, according to the notice, comprised “party officers, six members elected by conference, one representative and one alternate from each branch, four members of the parliamentary group, including one senator, one youth wing representative and one women’s caucus representative”.

The source asked: “If it’s about the party and it’s party business, then why have you limited it as to who can attend?”