Robert King had shaken the trust of his OBA colleagues before he was even elected leader, Ben Smith says, and adds that the party’s internal voting system may need reform
Deposed leader of the OBA, Robert King, had stepped on the toes of his parliamentary colleagues even before he became party leader, his successor says.
Ben Smith cites an interview Mr King did with Bermuda Broadcasting during the leadership election campaign as opening rifts that never healed.
Speaking to Gary Foster Skelton today, new OBA leader Ben Smith said while party members vote, it’s the MPs who have to do the work.
Trust between MPs and the former leader was never fully restored, it seems, even as the party brought in professional mediation.
Going back to the leadership election night in September, Mr Smith says there were individuals who had run against the OBA in the February 2025 General Election who turned up to vote.
He conceded that the party’s voting process may need to be reformed, but added that there are mechanisms that allow corrections to be made. This, he says, is what he and his colleagues did last week by using a no confidence vote.
When asked about Robert King’s future and whether he may remain with the OBA, Mr Smith said that the action they have taken is not about him as a person, but what is in the best interests of the community.
He says he would have preferred the transition to be easier, but Robert King chose a different method, and now he has to decide if he wants to progress forward with the team.
“He got elected under the One Bermuda Alliance. He is part of our team”, Ben Smith said.
“Obviously, continuing to say negative things about the party… makes that harder… not impossible.”
“What you have to do now is decide, if you want to be part of the team, how are you going to rebuild that trust?”
Bermuda Broadcasting has reached out to Robert King for a response.
WATCH the interview clip above. FULL interview to come…
