Tuesday night was far from the foregone conclusion many political observers expected.

The fact that three people challenged for the leadership and four were nominated for the deputy leadership shows the PLP is a far more democratic party than it once was.

This is part of late Opposition Leader Frederick Wade's legacy; he took a party which once expelled four MPs because they dared to criticise the PLP leadership and brought it to the point where people can challenge for the leadership without fear of reprisals.

But the votes also suggest that another part of Mr. Wade's legacy -- the unity which the PLP has shown while the United Bermuda Party has been tearing itself apart -- could be at risk.

While political observers -- who once again proved their fallibility -- were predicting there would be no challenge to Ms Smith before the November PLP conference, it's likely those considering running were concerned Ms Smith could well be unbeatable by then and opted to run now instead.

The question supporters of the PLP will have to ask is whether this was simply a matter of ambitious politicians seeing Tuesday's elections as an opportune moment to seek higher office, or if it is indicative of wider divisions within the PLP.

Traditionally, the PLP has been divided between its pro-labour, working class wing and its often more conservative professional group. Eugene Cox, who polled poorly in the leadership race, is representative of the conservative wing of the party but his lack of success may have had more to do with his age and perceived lack of voter appeal rather than the popularity of his views.

The fact that Terry Lister ran rather better -- in a crowded field for the deputy leadership -- suggests the conservative group, while not a majority, has some strength.

The challenge for Ms Smith and Mr. Scott, the deputy leader, will be to hold the two wings of the party together as the PLP gears for the next election.

The first test will be the Devonshire North by-election, where there are likely to be several people vying for the seat.

Sen. Lister has already made it clear he is interested in the seat, and it will be a challenge to see how the party -- whose selection procedures are far more arcane than the UBP's -- handles the nomination.

This is the first by-election the PLP has fought where it has a chance of winning since the 1977 poll in Sandys North, when Mr. Cox was elected. Twenty years on, the PLP has a far greater chance of success in Devonshire, but how the candidate is selected -- and who gets the nod for what is in effect a life-time seat -- will say much about what sort of a legacy Mr. Wade has left his party.