Progressive Labour Party spokesman Scott Simmons sounded the rallying cry for Independence at a Press conference yesterday but gave few clues on when Government would move on the idea.

And he said the issue was still being debated within the party itself.

He indicated the PLP would be plugging the sovereignty message at constituency meetings aimed at the public and party supporters alike but he would not say when they were likely to happen and would not even agree they could happen within the next few months.

He told : "It is not helpful to talk about time lines.

"What the party believes we need to do is to discuss it with each other, not just Independence but the whole premise of Bermuda ? the whole idea of who we are, what we are and where we are going.

"Our party members still want clarification just like everybody else."

He said the party did not want to run ahead of the Bermuda people. "We are not going to rush the people of Bermuda to a decision."

Senior figures within the party have already conceded the Independence issue is non-starter, with polls showing a resolute majority against, but Mr. Simmons said the debate will not be stopped.

And at the Press conference he had given a florid speech calling on Bermudians to stand tall and take control of their Island.

He said: "The national identity we now seek is not just the goal of one segment of our community.

"The dream to walk boldly and carry a big stick was first introduced by our former countrymen who dared to be independent, dared to see this Bermuda as an Island unto itself and dared to set up the legislative framework for such a daring proposal."

Meanwhile Government Senator Walter Roban dismissed rumours that leader Alex Scott could be toppled at the PLP delegates conference at the end of the month.

He explained that rule changes made in 2002 under then leader Jennifer Smith replaced the cycle of elections every two years and brought in a four-year cycle with the next round due next year.

Ironically Ms Smith was then deposed in 2003 by a coup within the PLP parliamentary party.

Sen. Roban, who was the PLP's General Secretary throughout most of the 1990s, said speculation about a leadership challenge was often rife at conference time.

"They are just rumours, one cannot spend time being preoccupied with them," he said.