By Jonathan Bell

British Opposition leader and would-be Prime Minister Ed Miliband’s threat to blacklist Bermuda as a tax haven was attributed by Premier Michael Dunkley to pre-election ploys.

Speaking at yesterday’s House of Assembly, the Premier strongly defended Bermuda’s record of transparency in the face of the get-tough measures vowed by Mr Miliband this month.

“The UK is in the throes of an election campaign,” Mr Dunkley said. “In just over three months, UK voters will go to the polls in what, by all accounts, is likely to be a close fought race after five years of coalition government.

“The battle lines being drawn between the two main parties are increasingly robust, and from time to time statements such as these are likely to be made in the name of winning votes at home. This is not unique to the UK, and Honourable Members may recall that 2008’s United States presidential election featured a primary season that named some Overseas Territories in attack ads.”

Mr Dunkley staunchly backed the Island’s commitment to safeguards over the past 70 years, and reiterated his earlier expression of disappointment at the threats, saying he had shared Bermuda’s position with Mr Miliband in a February 9 letter. The Island can boast one of the world’s longest standing records of meeting international regulatory standards, he added. “Bermuda’s message reaffirming the integrity of the jurisdiction as it relates to our adherence to international standards and tax transparency was well received internationally, and has led the way in the response to Mr Miliband’s comments,” Mr Dunkley said.