The United Bermuda Party has been through turmoil in the wake of long-serving Premier Sir John Swan. Now there are signs that all is not well with the Progressive Labour Party. Maybe Opposition Leader Frederick Wade patched more cracks than the public was aware of.

What seems to be developing in the PLP is a division between the professional and more centrist group and the political firebrands. The professional group believe that they are the future because they can attract the floating middle class voter the PLP needs for election. They also believe that the firebrands, some of them deeply embittered by personal failure, have had chances to win in the past and failed.

The personality splits and the philosophical differences were very evident recently on TV between former PLP Paget East candidate Rolfe Commissiong and sitting Senator Terry Lister. The gulf between them is much wider than that between most supporters of the same political party.

Those who had thought that all was well inside the PLP, including this newspaper, were surprised by the challengers to Jennifer Smith's leadership so soon after Mr. Wade's death. She was seriously challenged.

The move toward the leadership by Alex Scott and his election as Deputy PLP Leader did not sit well with those who believe that the middle road is the only one to success for the PLP. Also, it does not bode well for November when the PLP holds regular leadership elections.

Most PLP supporters believe that the turmoil in the UBP virtually certifies a long-sought PLP victory. Therefore they are anxious not to do anything to set the PLP back, remembering that the party has often defeated itself with radical statements and a lack of will to win.

Now there is confusion over the safe seat left vacant by Mr. Wade. There's nothing like a safe seat and the smell of victory to bring out the candidates, especially those looking for a parliamentary salary. That is what has happened in Devonshire North. Everybody wants to run.

It seemed that Senator Terry Lister was the obvious candidate but at last count there were some seven hopefuls. Lawyer Paula Cox, daughter of long-time PLP parliamentarian Eugene Cox, appears to be the favourite of Mrs. Lois Browne Evans as a running mate. In Devonshire North Lois Browne Evans is likely to get what she wants but it is important that there has been a challenge and that one possible candidate has seriously questioned the selection process.

The PLP's candidate selection process is quite different and less democratic but often more effective than that of the UBP. Just look at the UBP. If there had been no primary in Smith's South, the UBP central committee would probably have chosen Dr. Grant Gibbons, been rid of Trevor Moniz and saved itself endless grief. The PLP does not hold primaries and its membership has long accepted that.

That allows the PLP not to give a safe seat to Rolfe Commissiong, who served as a sacrificial lamb in Paget but is an unlikely parliamentarian, and it allows them to stay away from Julian Hall who is widely thought to have cost them the last election but still wants to run.

Only time will tell whether both parties are in internal trouble.