Deputy Premier Ewart Brown has ruled himself out of the running for Progressive Labour Party leader this year ? increasing the likelihood of Premier Alex Scott remaining unchallenged in the top job.

Mr. Scott?s term as party leader ends in October and he will need to be nominated and re-elected by MPs, Senators and party conference delegates in order to stay in the position ? and in charge of the country.

Dr. Brown has publicly made known in the past his ambition to be party leader and Premier. But he told : ?I have no intention of seeking the leadership at this year?s conference and I hope that one day I will qualify.?

The Tourism and Transport Minister said that remarks he made during an interview in April with this newspaper still stood. ?I said that I have no intention of challenging for the leadership at this time and that whenever, if I ever change my mind and decide to, then the Premier would be the first person to know.?

Mr. Scott would not comment on whether he will stand for re-election. In response to a question about his intentions, he said only: ?I appreciate your inquiry about the PLP?s October conference and look forward to your coverage of the event.

?Our conference covers matters that are of extreme importance to the development and direction of the party and we will be pleased to talk with you at that time.?

PLP Senator Walter Roban said there had been no indication that Mr. Scott would not make himself available to be nominated for re-election as leader.

?I?m surprised that anybody would suggest that he wouldn?t,? he said. ?I can?t say that I know his mind 100 percent because I?m not him. But I don?t believe that he will do anything else but be nominated and continue as leader.?

Sen. Roban said he was not aware of anyone planning to contest the leadership but added: ?Anything can happen. It?s early days. No one has indicated anything at this point and arguably somebody could make it well known ahead of time.

?But ultimately it?s on the night that counts. Nobody at this point really says anything about what they are doing.?

Political commentator Walton Brown said he expected Mr. Scott to stand for re-election. ?If Dr. Brown is ruling himself out then there is unlikely to be any challenger,? he added. ?That bodes well for the party. Given that we are likely to have an election within the next 12 months, it?s probably not within the best interests of the party to have a change in leadership at this point.?

Mr. Brown said there were a number of people within the party who could position themselves as an alternative to Premier Scott as leader.

But he said the Premier?s biggest challenge was to communicate to the electorate the work that he had been doing. ?He has been doing quite a bit but I think there is a disconnect between what people may perceive of him and what he?s actually accomplished.

?If the gap is bridged he?d find himself in a stronger position. That would reduce the likelihood of a challenger.?

Finance Minister Paula Cox has been tipped by some as a potential successor to Mr. Scott, though it is not thought that she would challenge his leadership. Ms Cox did not respond to a request for comment.

The leader and deputy leader of the PLP are voted for by politicians and party delegates during an adjournment of the conference in late October. The other executive officer roles, including party chairman, treasurer and public relations officer, are chosen by delegates only.