Kim Swan is still the leader of the United Bermuda Party after he saw off Bob Richards' leadership challenge last night.

An emotional and visibly drained Mr.Swan emerged from St. Mary's Church Hall in Warwick after 9 p.m. hugging his 14-year-old daughter Zindziswa and vowing to steer the beleaguered party into a new period of unity.

"It's been the toughest eight weeks of my political life," he told The Royal Gazette, adding solemnly: "I feel good, but it isn't a fist-pumping moment."

Beaten challenger Mr. Richards whom many inside the party thought would win with his plan to push through reform stressed his willingness to work with Mr.Swan to try to lift the party out of its recent troubles.

A delegate turnout of almost 100 percent meant 76 people took part in a secret ballot and although not even the members were told the winning margin, many said it must have been very close.

Mr. Swan, known for his passionate and animated orating style, was said to have won over the crowd with a more subdued speech than normal although his voice was still loud enough to be heard by reporters gathered in the rain outside the church hall.

He told the media he had focused on explaining how the UBP must change the way it does business, getting into the community to take action on issues such as crime, the economy and education.

Mr. Swan told this newspaper:"I give Bob credit for believing enough in what he wanted to contribute to want to contest the leadership. Now we go to the House, rushed albeit, but having addressed that issue.

"This is an internal contest. I respect everyone that came out and participated in this exercise. It's my responsibility to appreciate what I call the power of one.

"The first thing we must do is build a cohesive unit, with the parliamentary group contacting with the branches.

"We certainly have to consolidate our base.

"The most important thing for the nine MPs is to show the people that we are working together and start getting on with the people's business. We have to multi-task."

Mr. Richards said the UBP which has seen five of its 14 MPs walk out in the past two years had hit rock bottom but was now showing signs of fighting back.

"Folks made their decision," he said. "The most important thing here is that the whole exercise has been a real galvanising effort for our party. We had all the delegates come out, every last one of them."

He said he still hopes to contribute his plan of reform, adding of Mr.Swan:"We have worked together for a long time. I look forward to working with him in the future."

Some UBP sources had predicted the outcome would rest on the performance of the pair in 15-minute speeches.

Mr. Richards said last night:"He's an emotional speaker. Maybe that helped. I'm more of a matter-of-fact type of guy."

Long-serving MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said of Mr.Swan's speech:"It was rather subdued a lot more subdued. He was just straightforward making his points.

"I think it was a performance done with humility.I think that's what won it. Although they were both calm and spoke very well."

Former Senator Gina Spence-Farmer said:"Both were strong, both made good points and both got good reactions.

"It would be interesting to know how close it came.

I think it was very close."I think we are just ready to come together, galvanise and work as a team. We haven't lost anything. We have got two men who want to lead and bring about that change.

"I look at what Bob said after the result was announced: 'Now the work begins, together.'"