Vexed Bermoothes

In the last election, the UBP had solid policy reforms and preached the gospel of unity. The problem is that their insistence on measured calmness made it sound like they were on prozac, compared to the fiery (albeit divisive) energy of the PLP campaign.

So, it’s no surprise to hear the new UBP leader, Kim Swan, on the radio this morning coming out swinging. The change is marked: he is combative. He is speaking the language of grassroots. He is making it clear (presumably to people both within and outside the party) that he is no man’s puppet.

His unopposed election as leader of the opposition means that the parliamentary group of the UBP, which according to news reports is split on the go-forward strategy, has decided that hasty action could actually diminish the delivery of an “effective opposition.”

Some will say they need to self-immolate now in order to create an effective opposition for tomorrow. Others believe that, given the rapid pace of change under the autocratic Dr. Brown, they must step up opposition pressure today. That second course has held, at least for now.

The UBP has been trying to get back into power since 1998 on the basis of “good management” and “consensus.” But there was little passion. People mumbled their support for the UBP. It was all rather so polite. Meanwhile the the PLP party planners – despite their deeply flawed leadership and record – draw excited crowds.

I predict that the UBP – and Bermuda politics – will change rapidly from here. Step one, from this limited observation, is that they must learn to be a more effective street-level opposition. In addition to keeping our Government more honest, that is the path to rebuilding the grassroots that will break the back of the “race problem” and the PLP’s other splinter tactics of past elections.