Ewart Brown tonight defeated Premier Alex Scott to take the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party by a vote of 107-76 at the PLP delegates conference.

Dr. Brown, who was Deputy Premier and Tourism and Transport Minister until his resignation from Cabinet two weeks ago, will now become the Island's third PLP Premier provided he can show he has the support of a majority of MPs in the House of Assembly.

Finance Minister Paula Cox, who had backed Mr. Scott, was elected as Deputy Leader and tonight promised to work with Dr. Brown. She defeated Environment Minister Randy Horton by an uncofirmed vote of 95 to 32, at which point in the count, Mr. Horton conceded defeat.

Dr. Brown ended Mr. Scott's tenure as Leader some three years after he unsuccessfully challenged for the leadership in the wake of the party coup which overthrew Dame Jennifer Smith just days after the PLP's 2003 election victory.

Now he faces the challenge of reuniting the governing party which was divided by his challenge. Mr. Scott had the support of many of the party's old guard, including former party leader Dame Lois Browne Evans and Dame Jennifer.

Mr. Scott will now have to formally tender his resignation as Premier to the Governor, paving the way for Dr. Brown to take over.

Dr. Brown said an announcement on a new Cabinet would be made on Monday.

The PLP has an eight-seat majority in the House of Assembly, holding 22 seats to the Opposition United Bermuda Party's 14.

Dr. Brown, a physician, was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1993 and became Transport Minister in 1998 when the PLP was first elected to power.

He became Deputy Premier in 2003 when Mr. Scott became Premier and was appointed Tourism Minister in 2004 after Renee Webb controversially resigned.