Terry Lister quits PLP (Update 1)

Veteran PLP MP Terry Lister today quit as a PLP MP — and said his isolated position in the party he had served for more than 20 years had made up his mind.

He told a hushed House of Assembly: “I have decided for the balance of my political career I will stand as an independent member.”

Mr Lister said that his decision to voice his concerns about Bermuda’s ballooning debt in 2009 had caused problems with the party.

He said: “The past few years have been extremely difficult and less satisfying for myself.”

The Bermuda Sun reported that Mr Lister was set to quit today in its online edition on Thursday night.

Mr Lister said that he had taken his decision after consultation with his Sandys South constituency party, key supporters and following prayer for guidance.

He added that he had been put forward as a delegate for the leadership after former Premier Paula Cox lost her seat in the OBA victory at the polls in December — and had been hurt and surprised by the “hostility” he faced from delegates at the election conference.

Mr Lister said that when he outlined his long history with the party during his speech, one delegate said: “It’s time for you to go.”

He added that he had been offered the Shadow Finance role by new PLP leader Marc Bean — but after deliberation, had e-mailed him to decline, but offered to serve in any other Shadow Cabinet post.

But he said that his wife had phoned him shortly after he sent the e-mail to ask why he wasn’t in the Shadow Cabinet and he found its members had been announced hours before.

Mr Lister said: “I was out of the Shadow Cabinet before I even sent the e-mail.”

And he made it clear that he saw being listed as the 36^th Member of the House as a clear snub as it was a spot normally reserved for a new MP.

Mr Lister said: “The message is clear — the delegates said it was time for me to go, the leader has said there is no place for me in his Shadow Cabinet.”

And he said he would now “stand for Bermuda” rather than party and added: “I look forward to serving this term and possibly further terms in this role.”

Mr Lister’s decision shows a clear rift between the party old guard — branded too establishment and responsible for the party’s defeat at the polls — and the new blood now taking over the leadership positions.

The veteran was first appointed to Senate in 1993 and was one of the group of MPs that swept the PLP to power for the first time in a landslide victory in 1998.