David Burt, the Premier, reneged on a deal to keep Lawrence Scott in Cabinet as a reward for his personal backing in the Progressive Labour Party leadership battle, a senior source has told The Royal Gazette.

Mr Burt surprised some when he axed Mr Scott as transport minister in a limited reshuffle of his top team after beating a challenge from Curtis Dickinson, the ex-finance minister, for control of the PLP.

A senior PLP source told The Royal Gazette that Mr Scott had been “betrayed” by the Premier.

The source said: “They had a deal that Lawrence Scott would stay in Cabinet for his support.

“But, then, people close to him, know what David’s like.”

Mr Scott refused to comment when asked about the allegation.

Mr Burt tried to present the Cabinet changes last week as a “rotation” as he denied the sacking of Mr Scott was revenge for the MP stating he had considered trying to oust Walter Roban from the No 2 slot in the PLP, and position of deputy premier.

Mr Scott decided against such a move and said that he voted for the Premier in the PLP delegates vote, which Mr Burt won by a slimmer margin than some observers expected with 97 votes to 56.

Alex Scott, the former party leader and premier, who is the ex-minister’s father, added spice to the situation when he called on the Premier to appear less “autocratic” after he was re-elected leader of a “clearly divided party”.

Asked by The Royal Gazette if Mr Scott’s open deliberation on whether to challenge Mr Roban, or his father’s assertion the Premier needed to look less “autocratic”, had been factors in his sacking, the ex-transport minister said: “You’d need to ask the Premier that.”

A senior PLP source also suggested that given Mr Burt’s leadership race pledge that he would serve only four more years as leader, they expected him to quit before the next national vote, which must be held by 2025.

The source said: “People expect him to call the election, maybe three months, or six months out, and then announce he is stepping down as PLP leader.

“Then there would be a special delegates’ leadership election.

“He has said he will not go beyond 2026, so that means if we lose he can say ‘it’s not my fault’, and if we win, he can say ‘this is down to me’.

“Leaders who take it to the wire in the drop-dead zone for elections usually don’t do so well.”

When Mr Scott was fired from the Cabinet last Thursday he told The Royal Gazette: “I was surprised because I thought I was doing a good job.

“I’m not bitter. It’s politics, not Sunday school.”

Mr Scott added: “The Premier no longer thinks I’m a good fit for the team and he has put me on the bench — but then Ronaldo doesn’t get to play every game.”

Asked if removing Mr Scott was related to his public musing on running for PLP deputy leader, the Premier said: “Making Cabinet changes is very difficult and it’s incredibly difficult when you have the largest parliamentary group in PLP history.

“That is a challenge, but I don’t view it as anything other than being the captain of a team.

“Sometimes you have to rotate the team and that is the way that we look at it.

“There are a significant number of items that have to be done outside of Cabinet and I look forward to the support of the ministers who are no longer part of Cabinet to advance those initiatives.”

During the PLP leadership contest, Mr Burt and Mr Dickinson both attacked malicious online stories that were circulating.

Mr Dickinson also branded Mr Burt a “liar” in the final days of the campaign.

Wayne Furbert took over from Mr Scott as transport minister for the third time in the mini-reshuffle.

The PLP were contacted for comment and had not responded by press time.