Speaking four years ago, Dr. Brown said he wanted to spend time and energy making more citizens comfortable with Independence and move Bermuda towards its true glory as a prosperous independent nation.Royal Gazette poll in November 2006, by Research Innovations, showed support for Independence was 17 percent, with 65 percent against.

He recently said his numbers showed a steady increase in the numbers of Bermudians in favour of Independence, although he has provided no figures.

Some Progressive Labour Party members believe the Independence drive was set back by the Uighurs affair, which angered the UK.

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Our latest survey, carried out earlier this month, by Mindmaps, showed 14 percent of voters support Independence, with 73 percent against.

Dr. Brown has frequently expressed frustration that young people in Bermuda have not been leading the drive to cut ties with Britain, as was the case in many former colonies.