Would-be political bedfellows not seeing eye-to-eye

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance and the United Bermuda Party are still poles apart on the make-up and the structure of any new party, according to sources close to the discussion.

And they may be forced to fight a general election as separate entities if Premier Paula Cox decides to go to the country this summer.

Both parties are still hopeful that a union will be possible – with the electoral maths pointing to a massive PLP win if they remain as separate entities.

Landslide fears

A Bermuda Sun statistical analysis showed that the PLP would stroll to a 31-seat romp — if voting patterns follow November’s Warwick by-election with the BDA and UBP splitting the opposition vote.

Despite those sobering numbers sources on both sides of the divide say they have so far been unable to find enough middle ground to unite.

The differences appear to be about personnel and party structure as well as the philosophy of the new party, rather than policy.

UBP insiders fear the power of its ‘grassroots’ branches will be diminished, while BDA members worry the established party simply wants to swallow their fledgling political movement.

A source close to the negotiations said: “The longer that the BDA and UBP have spoken it would appear that there is more that actually divides them then unites them.”

It is understood that key members of the UBP, including leader Kim Swan and party chairman Jeanne Atherden, have been resistant to some of the changes put forward by the BDA and the ‘reformers’ within the UBP.

“The real problems seem to lie in definitions of change.

“It would never be BDA members coming to the UBP.

“It would have to be a whole new party with UBP and BDA closing shop.”

Neither Mr Swan or Ms Atherden responded to requests for comment yesterday.

But a UBP source confirmed that the discussions had stalled.

The source said the UBP wanted to protect its branch structure and was reluctant to give up the political machinery it had built over several decades.

The BDA is also understood to be pushing for the UBP to drop members who can’t move with the times.

“The BDA is keen to see a party that will bring about change,” we were told, “but there are some core members of the UBP that are intent on preserving the UBP, despite evidence clearly showing that the UBP can never win an election whether the BDA existed or not. 

“The main protagonists of anti change seem to be led by the UBP leader and the UBP chair.

“I am told that they keep trying to protect their own positions instead of focusing on what is probably the best thing for Bermuda.

“Too many in the UBP think that all they need to do is continue to tell their story.

“However there are some that want to work with the BDA and join forces with them as a new party. They have been working hard to get others to change.”

Both parties expressed doubts that the merger would happen any time soon. But no one on either side is prepared to give up just yet amid fears that both would be obliterated if they fight the election separately.