UBP leader Kim Swan made a last-minute bid to convince members to join forces with businessman Harold Darrell instead of the BDA.Mr Swan said the UBP had become “preoccupied with the BDA” and pleaded with them to embrace another party that “represents real change.”He said a merger with the unnamed political party represented by Mr Darrell would help the UBP to “win the Government back.”Mr Darrell and Mr Swan are understood to have been discussing a possible merger since the end of last month. Mr Darrell is the so-called ‘Son of the Soil’ who leaked the BHC investigation file to the media.He also ran as an independent candidate in Pembroke Central in December 2007 and garnered a total of 24 votes.Mr Darrell believes the UBP has failed to change because of its history and current strategies. Instead of changing its name, Mr Darrell is said to believe the UBP can win the next general election if it goes for a complete revamp and some current MPs agree not to stand.Mr Swan who is understood to be desperate to cling on to his leadership role urged delegates to “consider a proposal from a viable group within our community, who wish to join the UBP.”He wrote in an e-mail to them: “We owe it to ourselves to fully explore all options with this group who have the people who can truly help us win the Government before we proceed any further.”But Mr Swan’s attempts fell on deaf ears at the special meeting of the UBP Central Council on Tuesday last week. His motion to adjourn the dissolving of the party was voted down by 63 to 19. Instead Central committee members voted 68 to 14 in favour of disbanding and reuniting with former colleagues in the Bermuda Democratic Alliance. The official launch of new political party One Bermuda Alliance is on hold due to legal proceedings.In the email to delegates Mr Swan did not mention anything about disagreeing with the process to dissolve the party or the lack of public consultation which is the basis of his current injunction order.Instead he said he believed it was “a grave error to prematurely discontinue” operating as the UBP. The email read: “It is widely felt that the UBP hierarchy has been so preoccupied with perceptions, polls and the BDA merger negotiations that we have forgotten the electorate, how they see things and the importance of human interaction with people by people who can relate to our diverse communities.”The email goes on to promote the continuance of the UBP with the addition of “new blood to represent UBP safe seats” and “current MPs contesting marginal seats.”It reads: “The feeling is that with the right people persons who think in a way required to win over the marginal voter involved that it is possible for us to win more marginal seats.“We must connect with people and speak for the people.“We need representatives who are in tune with the concerns and issues of the Bermudian electorate.“We do have such people interested but our party has been preoccupied with the BDA and unfortunately unable or unwilling to see the broader picture.”Former UBP Senator Charlie Marshall confirmed that there was “another group of individuals” in which the UBP could join forces.He added: “This group is keen, very capable and politically savvy.“They want to win and we want to win, and I think we both know what it will take.”Chamber of Commerce Chairman Stephen Todd has also been linked to the unnamed party. His name was mentioned at last Tuesday’s meeting, but he has denied any involvement.He said: “I’m aware my name has been linked to this party. It’s not the first time my name has been linked to a party.“But it’s nothing more than rumour, conjecture and speculation. I don’t have any party affiliation. I didn’t attend the meeting and I wasn’t there to hear first hand what was said.”Mr Todd added that he had known Mr Darrell for years “in a personal capacity.”Mr Swan, who is currently off Island, did not respond to our requests for comment yesterday.But he has previously refused to comment on the UBP/BDA party merger plans saying that he would talk when he was ready.Mr Darrell was unable to be reached by phone or e-mail yesterday.