David Burt is one of the most open leaders the Progressive Labour Party has experienced, according to Walter Roban, who mounted a robust defence of the Premier’s leadership.

Mr Burt had been described as autocratic, with the website TNN reporting on “autocracy that now exists within the party”, with “disdain shown to those who do not support the actions of Mr Burt”.

A source also told The Royal Gazette that a row at the end of a recent sitting of the House of Assembly was the result of discontent by backbench MPs who felt marginalised by the Premier.

It is understood that after comments from newly elected One Bermuda Alliance MP Robert King regarding a threatened fight, tensions in the House were febrile.

There was a misunderstanding about the House sitting ending, according to the source, and MPs were angered when the Premier stood up to speak, indicating that the session would finish.

The source, who also used the term autocracy to describe the Premier’s leadership style, said: “The frustration and how it all went down was the result of deep-seated things that have been going on in the background that finally bubbled to the top.”

The source added: “We have a 30-seat majority in the House. We have a 30-seat caucus, but members don’t feel as though they’re getting an opportunity to properly be consulted or give advice on legislation, on parliamentary strategy.

“The Cabinet makes all the decisions and the rest are required to kind of toe the line. The caucus is usually not really consulted, or if they bring policy papers to the caucus, it’s very high level and opportunities for real input are limited.

“The Cabinet is the place where the decisions are made, and that's the way he [David Burt] wants to keep it. That has been the way it's been run for a long time.

“The MPs are now looking at this partly because there is a view that David’s popularity is rock bottom and people are concerned about their own abilities to get re-elected.”

However, the Deputy Premier, who recently announced he was stepping down from politics at the next General Election, stood by Mr Burt, saying the Premier “has been one of the most open leaders that I have experienced in the PLP”.

On the events in the House, Mr Roban said: “Once I became aware of the chain of events and how it all came about, it was easier to understand why certain persons made the outbursts they did, because they themselves were unaware of certain events that had transpired.

“Once those explanations were made, it was cleared up. It’s always unfortunate to see what appears to be a breakdown in cohesiveness in any institution like that.”

Mr Roban declined to explain the chain of events, saying it was an internal matter “to do with the House, the Speaker, the Premier and others”.

However, he added: “It had to do with the rather unfortunate presentation made by the new member of the legislature at the time. The manner in which they made their maiden speech did create an environment that was energised in a negative way.

“I’m not trying to deflect, I'm just speaking about what I felt contributed to the environment in the House at the time.”

Mr Roban admitted that sometimes large majorities “bring their own interesting dynamics” but said it was wrong to describe the Premier as autocratic.

“It is an interesting assessment to me for people to describe David Burt’s leadership style as autocratic.

"Because of my seniority in the PLP, I’ve had the opportunity to observe and be a part of the leaderships of a number of different people and to experience the environment that leadership has had on the wider party.

“I would have to say that David Burt has actually been one of the most open leaders that I have experienced in the PLP.

“He has made an effort, particularly with the parliamentary group, to have a relationship that’s transparent, engaging and that actually focuses on when issues arise to bring about resolution to any tensions.”

According to Mr Roban, Mr Burt has put in place processes that have created “a harmony in the team that is better informed, that is better equipped to carry out its business in the legislature”.

“He has maintained consistently an open-door policy for every member to come to him day or night to discuss any issues that arise.”

“David Burt has led the most open parliamentary caucus in the history of the PLP for as long as I have been a member.

“Not only has he been extremely open with the caucus, but he's extremely deferential to the leadership structure of the party.

“The central committee is the actual governing body of the party outside the annual delegates conference and he has been extremely deferential to their authority and extremely respectful to the role that they play as part of the party's process.”

“He will tell you that sometimes there are decisions that central committee makes that he doesn't agree with, but they are the governing body of the party and they’re represented by members.

“So I have difficulty accepting the description of autocracy attached to David Burt when I know in his role as leader he has been one that has been considerably more open, considerably more conciliatory and engaging than some past leaders of the PLP.”

• This interview was conducted last Monday