Deputy Premier Paula Cox yesterday moved to quash speculation that she could not work with new Premier Ewart Brown.

Ms Cox, who stays as Finance Minister, said anybody who thought that her working relationship with Dr. Brown "left something to be desired" was in "cloud cuckoo land".

Asked about an interview in on the eve of the leadership election, in which she backed Alex Scott and hit out at Dr. Brown's platform, she stated: "I may vote for whoever, but once the vote is taken I will be supportive.

"We now have a new Premier and he can count on me 200 percent."

She described her working relationship with Dr. Brown as "cordial and comfortable" and added: "I expect that to continue and improve."

Viewed as future leadership potential by many in the PLP, the working relationship between Ms Cox ? the highest profile Alex Scott supporter in the new cabinet ? will be studied closely as Dr. Brown's leadership swings into action.

Some insiders said she could have emerged triumphant if the party needed another compromise candidate.

But despite riding high in popularity polls before the election, she never entered the battle for the PLP hot seat with some within the party saying that it was not in her nature to go scrambling for delegates' votes.

Questions about her hunger for the top job will no doubt remain, as she continues to juggle her job as a high-flying lawyer with Ace with her political responsibilities.

The daughter of PLP grandee Eugene, her rock solid reputation is based on impressive stints in key posts of Attorney General, Home Affairs and Education before she replaced her late father as Finance Minister under Alex Scott.

As the new Cabinet was sworn in yesterday, Ms Cox appeared uneasy and tense as she sat next to Dr. Brown.

Afterwards, however, she told that the new cabinet had a good balance and was "dynamic".

She also said that it was good to see an injection of youth and said that 25-year-old Senator Davida Morris would be a "breath of fresh air".

The Deputy added: "The Premier has done all he can to bridge any divides and also to make sure that he has a team that can go forward with efficiency."

Discussing Friday night's crunch vote, she said: "There's always a certain amount of poignancy when you see the ending of one era and the start of another.

"What was very productive, constructive and instructive was the manner of both men (Dr. Brown and Mr. Scott), as such there was a passing of the baton without any rancour."

She said delegates showed "tremendous maturity" and said there was now a sense of renewal in the party.

"I sense that there's a temperature change and it's to make sure we live up to expectations."