Central Manchester Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Bunting has suggested that individuals inside the People’s National Party (PNP) who consider themselves “palace guards” and not him should be blamed for the latest round of discord to rock the 81-year-old political organisation.

Bunting also dismissed suggestions that he orchestrated the infamous letter sent to embattled PNP President Dr Peter Phillips that threatened to reopen old wounds from his failed presidential bid last year, but insisted that the concerns expressed by the 14 other Opposition MPs who signed it are legitimate.

According to PNP insiders, the plan to fire off a letter to Phillips was orchestrated by an MP based in Clarendon.

PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson, speaking to reporters after last week’s executive meeting, confirmed that the parliamentary group will meet tomorrow.

Amid speculation that a general election will be called by late August, Bunting said PNP workers were complaining to their elected representatives about a range of issues regarding the party’s preparedness for the polls.