Paula Cox will be Bermuda's new Premier after storming to victory over Terry Lister and Dale Butler at last night's Progressive Labour Party leadership contest.

Ms. Cox claimed 75 percent of the votes — scoring 124, against 39 for Mr. Lister and two for Mr. Butler — to cheers from supporters at Devonshire Recreation Club as she succeeded Dr. Ewart Brown.

Derrick Burgess was elected Deputy Leader, seeing off competition from Mr. Lister, Michael Weeks, Walter Roban and Randy Horton.

Mr. Butler was forced to drop out of the deputy race after failing to receive enough nominations from the floor.

Flanked by party members as they emerged victorious from the venue at around 10 p.m., Ms Cox and Mr. Burgess gave a brief press conference in which they vowed to work hard for Bermuda and the PLP.

"I feel pleased and also aware that we have a lot of work to do," said the new leader, who is expected to be sworn in by Governor Sir Richard Gozney either today or on Monday.

"When you have an election for a prolonged period, you turn up a lot of stuff. My job is really to deal with community issues and national issues.

"There is business to take care of within the party to make sure we are stronger and more cohesive."

Ms Cox gave away little about her plans, although she hinted at a Cabinet shake-up and repeated her intention to make changes to the Civil Service.

She said she would be staying on as Finance Minister.

She would not say if there will be room for Mr. Lister or Mr. Butler in the Cabinet, but said of their challenges: "I think the delegates made their decisions."

As the three candidates made their speeches to the delegates, support for Ms. Cox was considerably louder than for either Mr. Lister and Mr. Butler.

Ms. Cox received rapturous applause after speaking calmly about the legacy of the PLP and the need to get the public back on board with the party.

Meanwhile Mr. Lister and Mr. Butler — the latter dressed in a sailor's cap with Team Bermuda on the front — both took turns to talk through their platforms without appearing to set the delegates' hearts racing.

But insiders said most minds had already been made up before the night, with victory for Ms. Cox — long considered the hot favourite to succeed Ewart Brown — never really in doubt.

Reacting after the result, neither losing candidate ruled out taking up a Cabinet position if offered one by Ms. Cox.

Mr. Lister told The Royal Gazette: "I'm a little disappointed. However I want to congratulate Minister Cox, the new Premier, and Minister Burgess, the new Deputy Premier.

"The party will be able to go from strength to strength. That's the key."

Mr. Butler said: "I feel great. I enjoyed it. The decision of the delegates I respect. I know my party so I'm not disappointed.

"What did I take from it? That the delegates have the final say and that you move on. I always place as my priority, my constituents."

The backbencher said his speech was "by far" the best of the night but that his references to having United Bermuda Party MPs such as Grant Gibbons and John Barritt in his "Team Bermuda" probably turned off voters.

Mr. Burgess won the deputy race after a second vote against Mr. Lister and Mr. Weeks. In the first vote, none of five contenders polled more than the necessary 50 percent to secure victory, so Mr. Horton and Mr. Roban, who came bottom of the pile, pulled out of the running for the second vote.

Asked what he would bring to the table in the press conference after the result, Mr. Burgess said: "Hard work, hard work, hard work."

He said he was "proud to serve my country" and added: "I am more proud of (Paula Cox) than I am of myself."

Both opposition parties congratulated Ms Cox last night — but both pointed to Ms. Cox's long involvement with what they described as a failing Government.

United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan said last night: "First I'd like to extend my best wishes to the Ms. Paula Cox on her new responsibilities as Premier.

"Ms. Cox certainly has her work cut out for her as Bermuda is clearly going in the wrong direction.

"However, I wish I could be more optimistic, but I don't see this as the real change that Bermuda desperately needs.

"Unfortunately I see Ms. Cox as a continuation of the same leadership and the same Government that got us into this mess in the first place, particularly the financial mess we find ourselves in.

"It was Ms. Cox who allowed the debt to quadruple since 2005 and who was responsible as Finance Minister for the uncontrolled spending and two deficit years in a row.

"And, where was Ms. Cox when the TCD Emission, Port Royal Golf Course and the Cruise ship pier at Dockyard projects were allowed to double or even triple in price?

"Why didn't Ms. Cox exercise her constitutional power as Finance Minister to prevent the lack of tendering and the conflicts of interest that the Auditor General has recently disclosed?

"I'm very concerned because we now must pin our hopes on the same individual who helped to create the serious problems to effectively solve them.

"This Country and our community need real change not just more of the same poor stewardship we've had for the past five years."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance leader Craig Cannonier said: "Congratulations to the new PLP leader Paula Cox.

"The BDA looks forward to some constructive dialogue with the Government to move Bermuda forward. There are serious challenges ahead for Bermuda.

"The economy is on the brink of collapse, the education system is in shambles and crime is spiralling to the point the Regiment may be required to assist.

"This cannot be the new Bermuda the PLP envisaged in 1998 when they came to power. Sadly the new Premier has been involved from the start as a Cabinet Minister so it will be hard to say there is now a clean break from the past.

"The new Premier will essentially be trying to clean up the every mess that the PLP created. Having said that the BDA will lend assistance in any way it can since we believe in Country before party.

"We are ready with an extended hand to ensure Bermuda's survival. We have the experience, the expertise and the desire. Call on us."

David Saul, a UBP Premier from 1995 to 1997, said: "I congratulate Ms Cox. Having been a former Premier, I sympathise with her as well as empathise.

"She gets my full best wishes to put together a team that will work in Bermuda's best interest.

"As we all know, she is the first among equals, but Ms. Cox will unquestionably have to think of the Country when putting together this team, to try to put the best people in the best places.

"Not only does every individual Bermudian wish her luck, but I think every person in Bermuda, especially those that work with international companies, will keep their fingers crossed that all will be well."