Former Bermuda Governor Lord Waddington has told the British Press he fears Bermuda will opt for independence without having a referendum.

Lord Waddington, who was at the helm during Sir John Swan's bid to break with British rule, told the Daily Telegraph's Peterborough column yesterday: “The last referendum, in 1995, produced a very clear majority for staying British. I suspect that if it was repeated the result would be the same. Most Bermudians are concerned that a break would damage the confidence of the international business community.”

But Lord Waddington added: “It's possible that the Bermudian Government might request independence without the authority of a referendum.”