David Burt appears to have “learnt his lesson” on consulting over the upcoming Budget after being accused of sidelining Progressive Labour Party MPs ahead of the Throne Speech, according to a senior source.

The Premier drew fire from some backbenchers in November when they accused him of being more concerned about his re-election bid as PLP leader than taking on board their ideas for the annual set piece event of the parliamentary year.

Referring to Mr Burt, who is also finance minister, a senior PLP source told The Royal Gazette: “I would say he has learnt his lesson. You learn a new lesson every day.

“The lead-up to the Budget in February is going to dominate everything from now on.

“He is reaching out to MPs and asking what they want to see.”

Some PLP MPs expressed “concern and disquiet” at the way they had been treated by the Premier in the run-up to November’s Throne Speech.

The traditional “retreat” gathering where MPs have presented ideas to the Premier in past years did not happen last autumn, and instead ministers were asked to give three proposals, which Mr Burt could then “choose or refuse”.

A senior PLP source said at the time: “There is normally a caucus of the parliamentary party. It is basically like a vote on what should be in the Throne Speech, but that did not happen this time.

“This precedent was not followed because the Premier was focused on the internal election – he made that clear.

“He went to ministers and asked for three ideas each and then he would choose or refuse them. There is disquiet in the caucus about this.

“He seemed to just want to tick all the boxes about what was there that could be done easily, rather than push the envelope for something new.”

Mr Burt secured the PLP leadership by 97 delegate votes to 56 against Curtis Dickinson, the former finance minister.