The December 18 general election hangs in the balance says Renee Webb who believes there will be a few surprises on election night.

And this time around people will be taking a harder look at the parties rather than just voting on race lines, said the former Tourism Minister.

"The election, rightly so, is up for grabs. I think the 3,000 new voters – about 900 of those are 18 and 19-year-olds – that will be very interesting in how that plays out. People are going to be looking at both parties in a much more objective manner. That's not a bad thing for Bermuda."

But she won't be drawn on which way the seats will go and won't even predict the outcome in her own which she held for the Progressive Labour Party by just eight votes last time.

"There will definitely be changes and a few surprises. Single seat constituencies are so close – look at all those who won by fewer than 100 votes. And now you are talking about another 3,000 new people coming in.

"People keep looking at the marginals and the east end but I think there are going to be many more changes than that."

Both parties will lose seats, she predicts. "And I don't think it is a given on which party is going to win. I really don't. Personally I want the PLP to win, they are still the party to win. They are more likely to put the race agenda on the table because it needs to be discussed.

"The timing of the election? I don't know if December 18 was the best time. I would have waited until the summer personally.

"I think the middle class is looking at issues - education, housing, seniors – and which party will address them."And young people are more likely to ditch race voting and make an independent decision believes Ms Webb.

"The good thing is young people don't see Bermuda along racial lines. That's encouraging. If I was to tell my nieces and nephews to vote for the PLP because it is a black party they would look at me as if I was crazy. I would never tell them that anyway but if it did?

"I think this might be a wake up call for politics in Bermuda this election. While people do still vote on party lines, I think it's also a time to move beyond that."

But that will take a maturing of the political system which she says is some way off.

"Politics in Bermuda will never develop the way I want it until we get over the stigma of race. Race still has a lot to do with how politics plays out in Bermuda and it is very unfortunate that we still in 2007, 60,000-something people, base our lives around racism.

"That is a tragedy. Until we get rid of it the whole community is going to be underserved. It is a disservice to the whole island we still have white communities and black communities, white clubs and black clubs. It is outrageous in 2007.

"The political system and democracy has not developed the way I would like to have seen it because we still haven't addressed the issue of race."

She said the 'Big Conversation' was a step in the right direction but whites were still in denial about white privilege. "The whole topic of conversation on racism plays out more in politics than any other area because politicians are willing to talk about it and recognise it but the community at large – whether it is churches, clubs or other organisations - doesn't put race on the agenda.

"It's the same with businesses – they all need to look at 'Is my company' a reflection of Bermuda at large?'"And she said women were still marginalised – in both politics and the heights of business. But she conceded the political situation helped perpetuate the racial divide with politicians often using race as a political football.

"Having said that, who else is bringing it to the fore?"

She said the Opposition was still in the process of getting its act together and Michael Dunkley probably wasn't the wisest choice as leader.

"Maxwell Burgess would have been a better choice to play off against Ewart. That would certainly have eliminated the race issue."

She said Mr. Dunkley seemed to be unaware of the race issue and was trying to say it didn't exist. "You are still dealing with the legacy of racism 'Can we trust a party lead by a white man?' The UBP is up against that. They must know it."

While she was a fierce critic of the UBP while in parliament she has empathy for everyone who is standing this time around and has sent good luck messages to candidates on all sides and said voters should take a hard look at who they are electing.

"I would like people to be elected on their merit. People who party hopped all the time weren't taken seriously.

"You are thought of being disenchanted and sometimes disingenuous. But people should have the right to serve any party or vote for any party at any point in their lives without being thought of as a traitor or not genuine.

"In other words politics in Bermuda is not broad enough and embracing enough because of the legacy of racism."

In her 15 years in parliament Ms Webb has successfully lobbied for the abolition of the death penalty and sodomy laws and extending the rights for spouses of Bermudians to work without a work permit and the right of single people to adopt children.

In Government at the Telecommunications Ministry she granted licenses and expanded competition which led to massive reductions of phone costs. At Tourism she hired consultant Roddy Carr of IMG to improve Bermuda's golf courses and to find a PGA tournament suitable for Bermuda which led to the successful PGA Grand Slam tournament which took place in October.

She implemented output measurement systems and organisational changes within the Department of Tourism despite resistance which lead to a staff revolt.

While she is proud of her legacy she is also happy to be moving on.

"We need more people to step up to the plate and put time in. I don't think politics should be forever.

"It should be almost a revolving door with politicians – that keeps them on their toes and also breeds new ideas when you have people coming and going.

"Fifteen years in my view is quite a long time."

She echoed the thoughts of departing colleague Jamahl Simmons who said MPs needed to have issues to champion rather than be mute voting fodder and leave it to their party to come up with the ideas.

"Yes you have to represent your constituents but you also have to be a visionary. We don't have enough visionaries in Bermuda politics – we have so many followers. That is our society at large."

Often it meant the willingness to take an unpopular stand. "People like to be liked rather than stand up for what is right. Culturally Bermuda has evolved where people hide behind anonymity, talk behind people's backs rather than being honest and up front.

"Historically there was fear and intimidation which has bred a culture of not standing up and being held accountable and not saying what you really think – whether that be to someone within your own race, within your own family or political party.

"So when you have politicians or anyone who actually stands up for what they believe they are seen as being courageous. People say it is refreshing that I do it but that is amazing to me because I think it is something everyone should do without fear or favour.

"I don't think the climate in Bermuda is such that people have to worry about their mortgages being pulled or some boogie man coming – those days are over.

"Now you can be penalised and ostracised but as long as it doesn't affect people economically ... You might be unpopular but in the final analysis you have to look at yourself because being honest to yourself is the most important principle."

As one of the more radical MPs, she thinks the PLP was very cautious in its early years. "Issues such as empowerment could have been moved on much quicker but I think there was a recognition by leadership to be pragmatic.

"But I thought we should have moved much more quickly than we did. But the PLP has a reasonable record in Government and has made a few significant changes."

She said she never had a desire to be leader but Ms Webb, who has become an outspoken critic of Premier Ewart Brown, believes the PLP would have a better chance of winning if it was led by Paula Cox but chauvinism in the party ranks meant a male leader was more acceptable.

"Men get away with saying and doing a lot of things – they are just considered strong males. A woman saying the same thing is considered a bitch.

"Male chauvinism is very much alive and well – but that's across the board in Bermuda, not just in politics, whether its companies, religious communities, clubs and homes.

"It will change when women recognise what their rightful place in life is.

"Nobody gives up power, the white supremacist or the male chauvinists. It's for those who feel oppressed to stand up. Until such time as power is challenged it will never fade."