Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's Cabinet would yesterday say nothing for or against their leader as they prepare to vote over his future.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox and fellow Ministers Nelson Bascome, Glenn Blakeney, Derrick Burgess, Dale Butler, Elvin James and Terry Lister all offered no comment when asked their thoughts about the motion of no confidence in the Premier put forward by the United Bermuda Party.

Like Governor Sir Richard Gozney and the UK, all seven were left in the dark as the Premier brought four Chinese Muslims to Bermuda from Guantánamo Bay in a way which has prompted anger at home and abroad.

Support for the Premier came from Progressive Labour Party backbencher Zane DeSilva, while Junior Labour Minister Walter Roban said he thought the motion could be invalid.

Assuming everyone votes in the motion this Friday or next Friday, the UBP needs five extra votes from the PLP or independent MP Wayne Furbert to get the 18 required for the motion to pass.

One PLP backbencher who has been a vocal critic of Dr. Brown said there was concern about the wording of the motion tabled by Opposition leader Kim Swan.

Mr. Swan said the motion is that "the House has no confidence in the Government led by Dr. Brown", meaning some anti-Brown MPs may consider their vote would be against the PLP Government as well as the Premier.

The UBP has stated that it is merely seeking a change of leadership in the Government.

Former Opposition leader Mr. Furbert said he knew which way he was going to vote, but would not disclose how, adding that he was still talking to his constituents over the issue.

Phil Perinchief, who ran for the PLP in the last election but has criticised Dr. Brown publicly after being axed as Attorney General, said he thought the UBP could improve its chances by calling for a secret ballot.

He said if that happens, several backbenchers and one or two Cabinet members would be more inclined to vote in favour of the motion.

Up to 1,000 people chanted against Dr. Brown in a massive demonstration yesterday led by a PLP supporter yesterday, and a number of PLP supporters said they had never known such anger within the party towards a leader.

Mr. Perinchief said yesterday's statement from Police Commissioner George Jackson that only a preliminary threat assessment on the men had been carried out — contrary to what Dr. Brown told the international media and the House of Assembly — would further enrage his opponents in the PLP camp.

Another former PLP Senator said: "I can understand if they had any hesitation with the motion, but I would also hope that the backbenchers acknowledge that the UBP are trying to do is take a vote of no confidence in Dr. Brown, not in the Government. The people do not deserve a leader who treats them with such contempt."

The UBP has claimed Dr. Brown's team is trying to kill the no confidence vote before it is debated by putting pressure on Speaker Stanley Lowe.

Yesterday, Mr. Lowe did not respond when asked whether he had been put under any such pressure, or whether the motion was legitimate.

PLP spokesman Wentworth Christopher said he had received "no indication of any disagreement within the party as relates to Dr. Brown".

Asked about those MPs who spoke out against the Premier in the House last Friday, Mr. Christopher replied: "They are entitled to make whatever comment they choose to make in the House. We have not taken any action of any type against them at this stage."

He refused to say what would happen to any MPs that were to vote against the Premier in the motion, describing such a scenario as "hypothetical".

Mr. DeSilva said: "Hopefully it won't be an issue at all and it won't even come to the House. I think that this is all about trying — as the Opposition has been trying to do for some years — to do anything they can to get rid of a confident, decision-making Premier."

Mr. Roban said: "I do not believe that motion will be successful. I don't know what's going to happen with it but I do not believe it will be successful. I have questions about whether the motion is even valid but that will be ultimately decided by the Speaker and the House."