The Opposition United Bermuda Party has expressed fears the British Government will ram through the Island's proposed constitutional changes before an expected UK General Election in May.

The UBP is lobbying Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians to ensure the Foreign and Commonwealth Office knows of the strength of feeling on the Island in opinion polls and a petition for a constitutional conference and referendum.

But UBP leader Pamela Gordon and shadow legislative affairs minister John Barritt fear Tony Blair's Labour government will approve the changes out of political expediency to dispose of the issue before the election.

In a speech to the two-day conference on Bermuda at St. Antony's College, Oxford, on January 20, Ms Gordon said Britain owed Bermudians a fair input into any constitutional changes.

"A political debt is the debt the UK owes to Bermuda in the process of constitutional change,'' she told the conference.

"Bermudians of every political persuasion rely upon the UK Government to ensure that Bermuda's process of constitutional change is consistent with well-established democratic principles.

"Many Bermudians fear their opportunity for truly democratic involvement will fall victim to the UK's political calendar or be sold down the river on the auction block of political expediency.'' Premier Jennifer Smith told the conference the UBP should accept Government plans to establish a Boundaries Commission to draw up single-seat constituencies and slash the number of MPs.

She argued the Opposition would have more clout in a Boundaries Commission because there would be two PLP, two UBP and two independents.

The FCO is still deciding on whether to recommend to the Privy Council in London that a Boundaries Commission be set up to look at the changes.

But Mr. Barritt said the UBP did not want to be involved in a "back room committee of six'' with no public input and would continue to press for a constitutional conference and referendum on the changes.

He said the UBP hoped Conservatives and Liberal Democrats would hammer home to the FCO that opinion polls on the Island are in favour of a referendum on constitutional change and a constitutional conference.

He said last night: "We are keeping them informed regarding what's happening in Bermuda with regard to opinion polls which show the people of Bermuda have expressed support for a referendum and a constitutional conference.

UBP worries Constitution may be sacrificed to Labour election plans "We hope they will help pressurise the FCO that there ought to be a constitutional conference and it will not be barrelled through by an order in council at the Privy Council.

"My impression from the Premier's comments to the Oxford conference is that she's trying to convince her audience that what the Opposition is saying is much ado about nothing because their plans for a Boundaries Commission would allow equal representation for the Government and Opposition with two independents.

"But we don't want to be involved in a back room committee of six that can decide what number (of MPs) is to be decided.

"We think the public should have a say, if a (constitutional conference) is not going on then by way of a referendum.

"From what I can gather, there is pressure on the British Government to get on with this and get it out of the way before the UK gets preoccupied with the General Election.

"The real pity if that's to happen, is that its due to priorities elsewhere rather than doing the right thing here.''