Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons accused Premier Alex Scott of being "over-sensitive" in his reaction to the row over UK-Bermuda relations.

Mr. Scott branded Government House "provocative" after Sir John Vereker's comments in which he called for "careful management" of the relationship as it became more complex.

But in turn Mr. Gibbons has accused the Premier of over-reacting, but he does admit the Government should be guarded when it comes to matters of Bermuda's internal affairs.

"What the Governor said was taken a little bit out of context," Mr. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette after the House of Assembly adjourned last night.

"He was talking about the inter-dependence that countries are finding in a much more global world. Whether you are a dependent territory or an independent country there will be issues that encroach across borders.

"But I think Alex Scott was being a little over-sensitive about what the Governor and Deputy Governor have said and done recently. "The issue should have been dealt with in one phone call rather than raised up to this level.

"There are ways of dealing with these things and it shouldn't be about asserting territory in the media."

Despite his guarded attack on the Premier, Mr. Gibbons did concede there was some degree of cause for concern.

"Alex Scott was right to say we have to put Bermuda first in terms of how we look at policy issues," he added.

"It is the job of the Premier to ensure that the role of the Bermudian Government is protected.

"We have always felt that we have to be cognisant of the fact that the British Government is always going to act in its own best interest and Bermuda will always be a second priority.

"We don't want to be naive about that. We always have to be on our guard when decisions are taken which have international resonance."