arena.

Mr. Hodgson -- once a Progressive Labour Party MP in Hamilton West -- will team up to fight the same constituency with ex-Civil Servant Randy Horton.

The two will face up against Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess and Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert.

Mr. Hodgson yesterday declined to comment on reports that he was set to stand in the seat he represented with Calvin Smith between 1980-83.

But a PLP insider confirmed Mr. Hodgson was set to be announced -- and would have to resign as a Magistrate to fight his seat.

Former Bermuda Public Service Association chief Eugene Blakeney held Hamilton West with lawyer Julian Hall before both lost their seats in the 1993 General Election.

Mr. Blakeney was an unsuccessful challenger for the nomination this time around, according to a report in the Bermuda Industrial Union's The Workers' Voice.

Mr. Blakeney yesterday refused to comment on whether he had made a serious pitch for Hamilton West.

But the PLP insider said: "Eugene and Julian did not do the constituency work last time -- that's why they lost.'' Mr. Hodgson -- who studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at England's Oxford University -- went to law school after he lost his seat.

He attended the University of Buckingham in England and London's Middle Temple before returning to private practice in Bermuda.

Mr. Hodgson worked for the law firm of Richards, Francis and Francis and has served as a Magistrate for almost three years.

The Royal Gazette reported in December last year that Mr. Horton -- the former coach of Somerset Trojans -- was due to stand in the seat.

He confirmed an interest -- but insisted the final choice was up to the branch. Mr. Horton could not be contacted for comment last night.

The loss of the two Hamilton West seats is widely regarded as having cost the PLP their first chance at the reins of power in Bermuda.

And the seat will also play a key role in the next General Election, likely to be held in the autumn.

The vote in Hamilton West and Hamilton East, won at the last General Election by Renee Webb and the Rev. Trevor Woolridge, will both undergo some boundary changes, which will make the results even harder to predict.

But Bermuda Industrial Union leader Derrick Burgess delivered a by-election drubbing to United Bermuda Party candidate Francis Furbert earlier this year after Rev. Woolridge quit politics after a brief period of sitting as an Independent MP.