David Burt laughed off questions today about the Progressive Labour Party’s intentions to take Bermuda to independence.

Members have publicly stated the Premier raised the subject at the party’s banquet at the Fairmont Southampton last Saturday night.

But the Premier told MPs they should not be surprised to hear discussion over cutting ties with Britain, as it is included within the PLP’s constitution.

Responding to parliamentary questions from Shadow Attorney-General Trevor Moniz that Mr Burt said he would be the premier to take Bermuda to independence, the Premier said he was “endlessly amused” by the Opposition’s inquiries into the matter.

He told the House of Assembly: “Independence is inside of the PLP’s constitution, so whenever we have a meeting that matter is discussed.”

He asked Mr Moniz to refer to the PLP’s platform and Throne Speech, which he said “sets out the agenda of this government”. Neither document refers to independence.

Mr Burt added that the One Bermuda Alliance would be better off “focusing on its own agenda rather than that of the PLP”.

When the idea of independence was raised in September, tourism minister Jamahl Simmons told members of a Bermuda Captive Conference: “The position is this: it was not in our platform, we have not discussed it.”