Former Cabinet minister David Burch is expected to be officially announced as the Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for Warwick North Central.

Mr Burch ran in the constituency — a key marginal seat — in the last General Election, losing by just ten votes to the One Bermuda Alliance’s Wayne Scott.

It is understood an announcement is likely before the end of the week on his candidacy, although PLP constituency 27 branch chairman Anthony Santucci would not comment yesterday.

Mr Burch’s Twitter account, @ColonelBurch, shows he has been actively canvassing in the neighbourhood, as well as getting involved in cleanup activities on the streets.

His social media feed features photographs of him meeting constituents, attending meetings and taking part in gardening efforts to improve the area.

Many of the pictures are accompanied by slogans such as “canvassing 27” and “Colonel in the village”.

Mr Burch has ran and lost three times as a PLP candidate in general elections and once in a by-election.

He first ran for the party in Smith’s South in the 1998 General Election, then in a by-election in the same constituency in 2001. In the 2003 election, he ran in Hamilton South.

The former Bermuda Regiment commanding officer, who reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, became a PLP senator in 1998 and served as chief of staff to Dame Jennifer Smith, during her time as premier.

He joined the PLP Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio in 2000, before taking on the housing brief in 2002. Mr Burch went on to become Minister of Public Safety and Housing and, later, Minister of National Security.

He resigned from that role, and from the Senate, in 2011, after a disagreement with Paula Cox, who was then Premier.

Mr Burch was educated at West End Primary, Southampton Glebe and Sandys Secondary. He later attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and the School of Infantry, Warminster, both in the United Kingdom, and has an OBE for services to the military.

He will run against the OBA candidate, political newcomer Sheila Gomez, a former tennis player and coach, in Warwick North Central.

Mr Burch could not be reached for comment. A PLP spokeswoman said: “We will be announcing candidates for every constituency in due course.”

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