Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge has emerged as the front runner when United Bermuda Party MPs meet on August 24 to choose a successor to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

Sen. Gary Pitman, the UBP chairman, accepted Sir John's resignation as party leader during a meeting at the Cabinet Building yesterday and will take it to caucus today, sources told The Royal Gazette .

At today's 9.30 a.m. meeting, Sen. Pitman will give the required one-week notice of a meeting to choose the new leader. Sir John will stay on as Premier until his successor is chosen.

Nomination Day will be August 21, and a special meeting at which candidates may deliver short speeches will be held on August 23, the day before the leadership vote.

Going into today's caucus meeting, Mr. Woolridge is the favourite, but no clear successor to Sir John has emerged.

"It's going to be tough,'' said one caucus source. "If it's not the right person, I don't see the party lasting long.'' While there are several contenders, the dynamics make it likely there will only be two names on the first ballot.

Potential leaders include: Mr. Woolridge -- The front runner. Thought to have the backing of Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira, the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Dr.

David Dyer, Mr. John Barritt, Mr. Rick Spurling, and Mr. Trevor Moniz.

It is believed he could also win important swing votes, like those of Mr. Tim Smith, the Hon. Grant Gibbons, the Hon. Harry Soares, Mr. David Dodwell, the Hon. David Saul, and the Hon. Leonard Gibbons.

But Sir John's staunchest backers see Mr. Woolridge and his backers as "right wing''. To them, the thought of Mr. Woolridge as Premier is repugnant. Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman -- Still the strongest candidate for the anti-Woolridge camp, but his supporters say he was sincere in ruling himself out as a successor to Sir John.

Mr. Pearman is away on a cruise as he and his wife celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and he is not due back until the weekend of August 26 -- two days after the leader is expected to chosen.

But the cupboard is relatively bare of acceptable alternatives to Mr.

Woolridge, and some MPs may be reaching for the shore to ship radio.

Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill -- Young, well-spoken, black, and studiously neutral on Independence.

But he is inexperienced, lacks warmth, and is considered a closet Independentiste by the anti-Swan camp.

Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon -- Young, warm, well-spoken, black, and a woman who made a well-timed call for moderation in the Independence debate while refusing to say how she would vote in the referendum.

The Gordon name is also an asset, but she is inexperienced. And she too has ruled herself out.

Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons -- Young, well-spoken, and impressive in handling the takeover of the Airport and US Bases. He has also earned respect in the Swan camp, where he is not seen as "right-wing''.

But he is white, seen as a bit of a cold fish, and as a Gibbons does not project the image the UBP currently wants to project.

Longshots include: Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul, Works & Engineering Minister the Hon.

Leonard Gibbons, and Community and Culture Minister the Hon. Wayne Furbert -- In each case, only to break a serious logjam.

Considered out of the running: Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, Mr. Moniz, and the rest of the main backers of Mr.

Woolridge. The six want Mr. Woolridge as Premier and although all but Mr.

Spurling could garner some support, they have no reason to run against him.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness and Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess; They are too closely associated with Sir John, took the wrong side in the referendum, and have all but ruled themselves out.

Only MPs can vote in the leadership contest, and Speaker the Hon. Ernest DeCouto would not normally vote. Candidates must be sponsored by five MPs, and an MP may only sponsor one candidate. Therefore, with a 21-member Government caucus, the maximum number of candidates is four.