The Opposition may boycott meetings with the British Government over plans to axe twin member seats.

A team from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will begin consultations over the planned constitutional changes on April 2.

Both the Government and the United Bermuda Party are invited but Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt feared the talks might be a "sop''.

He said: "It seems it is their idea of a compromise to send them to meet with various people before drafting the Order in Council.

"Is it just a sop? "My view is we should reserve our position on whether to participate or not until we know more of what's planned. We need to know whether they are going to limit the number of people who can make statements and decide who can make statements.

"If it's open to the public we might well take a different view.'' Mr. Barritt said the move by the British Government was a clear sign that a constitutional conference, in which the parties put position papers and try to come to a consensus, was not going to happen. The UBP wants constitutional change to be put to a referendum rather than simply rubber-stamped by the UK's Privy Council after a Boundary Commission has decided how to divide up Bermuda into single-seat constituencies.

It's believed the Government may push for a reduction from the current number of 40 MPs.

Mr. Barritt said: "It's not being done the way it ought to be done. The people of Bermuda ought to have the final say in the number of MPs that represent them. We don't see the problem with that or why the Government is not prepared to do that.

"It's not clear what the next stage is or what timetable they have in mind if they are doing it over a week.'' "I know individuals who have made submissions to Baroness Scotland. Are they going to be heard or is it just the Government and Opposition?'' Legislative Affairs Minister Dame Lois Brown Evans said she did not know how the process would run or when the final plans might be approved by the British.

And Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott he was not privy to the details.

UBP may shun UK talks A statement from Government Information Services said that an open session with the Head of the Overseas Territories Department John White will outline the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's views on the scope and purpose of the consultation.

Dame Lois said: "I am looking forward to them coming and to seeing some movement.

"Rather than have a constitutional conference they are just going to come down and talk to people.'' She said the British Government had always made it clear that it would not set up constitutional conferences unless independence was on the agenda.

"Why do people think every time there is a difference between the parties they would set them up? It's enough to listen to everybody.

She added: "The UBP are learning to be an opposition and take crumbs from the British master's table.''