Former Bermuda Premier, Paula Cox, has severed ties with the opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and will stand on her own in the July 18 general election as an independent candidate. Photo: BERNEWS

The longstanding PLP member called it quits after she was rejected as a candidate for Devonshire North West, despite being approved by the branch as their representative. The party has opted to go with candidate Wayne Caines.

Cox, who has served as PLP a parliamentarian since 1985, said she was forced to make the painful decision to leave the party.

“It is with a heavy heart that I do this, but I am compelled to cancel my membership on a point of principle,” Cox said in her letter of resignation.

She did not hide her dissatisfaction with the party’s actions, insisting it was a “miscarriage of justice.”

She said the recent events and circumstances “constituted a miscarriage of justice by the violation of the party’s processes, protocols and constitutional integrity regarding the….candidate selection and the proper consultation with the constituency branch”.

Earlier this month, the Devonshire North West Branch had written to the party, confirming that it was backing Cox to represent the seat. However, senior party officials overruled the branch and selected Caines as the party’s candidate.

PLP chairman Scott Simmons admitted that he was aware of the concerns raised by Cox, but said he had hoped the issue would have been resolved.

He however left the door open to Cox, expressing hope that after the election, she would hold talks with the PLP to discuss  the best way forward.