Premier Alex Scott has told PLP members he would not want to lead a party lacking in people who wanted to challenge him for the top job.

With just two months until his term as leader of the party ends ? and amid speculation about challengers for his job ? Mr. Scott appeared keen to make his position clear this week, pledging to raise his game.

Addressing a forum commemorating the ten year anniversary of the death of former leader L. Frederick Wade, Mr. Scott told the party faithful that running the country was an easier job than running his party.

Noting that the late Mr. Wade once remarked that he would not want to head a party that did not have others who wanted to be leader, even if they challenged him, Mr. Scott said he shared this view.

?It makes you raise your game. It makes you a little smarter and wiser so you know the whole team is at its best,? he said.

And he added: ?To raise my game it requires the cabinet to be a bit sharper ? so when you hear elections are coming and there?s talk about who might do one thing and who might do another that?s healthy: that?s the PLP.?

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

Minister of Transport and Tourism Dr. Ewart Brown has publicly made known his ambition in the past to be party leader, and Minister Paula Cox has also been tipped by some political pundits as having her eye on the top job.

Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette this newspaper last month that he has ruled himself out of the running for the leadership this year. Ms Cox did not respond to previous requests for comment on the issue and was said to be off the Island last night.

Asked yesterday what had prompted his remarks to the forum, Mr Scott said he had been talking in general terms about ?the drive and energy that fuels growth and maturity.?

He added: ?You put yourself in a precarious position if you don?t anticipate or want challenges. You need to have the young people coming behind.?

Asked if he expected any challenges to his leadership in October, he said: ?It?s up to the membership.?