The nephew of former Premier Sir John Swan is in England at a "McDonald's university'' studying how to run a fast-food restaurant, it emerged yesterday.

However, last night Sir John was being cagey about whether his nephew Clifford Savery would return to Bermuda after the course.

He also declined to say whether he still intended to open a McDonald's restaurant in Bermuda. "You never can tell,'' said Sir John.

Along with his business partner Maxwell Burgess, Sir John won permission to bring a McDonald's restaurant to Bermuda earlier this year through his company Grape Bay Ltd.

But Government's decision to allow them to bring a fast food restaurant to Bermuda sparked outrage among the Progressive Labour Party and effectively split the United Bermuda Party.

Rebel MP Ann Cartwright DeCouto successfully pioneered the Prohibited Restaurant Bill through the House of Assembly which aimed to stop the McDonald's plan, although the Bill was later defeated in the Senate.

It is believed Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and her fellow rebel MPs, dubbed the `People's Five', will try and reintroduce the Bill when the House of Assembly reconvenes in November.

Last night Sir John said his nephew, who lives in Bermuda but who also has US citizenship, had been in England for about a month on the nine-month course.

"He was offered the opportunity to do the course and took advantage of it,'' said Sir John. "The course is for about nine months and teaches about management and the whole process of running a McDonald's.'' Asked if he still intends to open a McDonald's Sir John said: "We are looking at all the options.''