A newspaper is standing by its story that claimed Premier Alex Scott broke diplomatic protocol when he revealed details of top level meetings in London last week.

However, investigations by now appear to indicate that a semi-confidentiality mechanism that can apply to certain meetings within the corridors of power at Whitehall in London was not invoked before the two-day Overseas Territories Consultative Council sessions.

That left the route clear for Mr. Scott and the Government?s Director of Communications Ms Beverle Lottimore to issue news bulletins for the benefit of Bermudians back home giving details of discussions on law enforcement, good governance and possible options to settle the Independence issue.

The Mid Ocean News is being asked to explain its front page story headlined ?Fury Over Premier?s Breach of Protocol? as the issue of press accountability and self-regulation is put back into the spotlight as a result of last Friday?s story. Only a few weeks after a message from the Premier was interpreted as a warning of possible media regulation, a spokesman for the governing Progressive Labour Party said the latest incident could lead to Government intervention to rein in parts of the media ? if the public so demanded.

In its story the claimed Mr. Scott had left the UK Government ?seething? for revealing details of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meetings.

An unnamed source within the UK Government hierarchy is reported to have stated that diplomatic protocol had been breached by the Premier, and it was further claimed the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office had hinted at the same.

However, in follow-up enquiries by to clarify the matter, an FCO spokesman said there was no intended criticism of Mr. Scott and that it was merely the FCO?s in-house policy not to release details of the OTCC sessions.

Investigations by indicate that the OTCC meetings could have been held in semi-confidentiality under the Chatham House Rules, but it is believed this mechanism was not invoked at last week?s sessions.

Now, in response to the Mid Ocean News story, the PLP has called for higher standards from the media. It comes only a few weeks after the Premier himself stated that freedom of speech was not free ?but comes with both responsibility and accountability?. PLP public relations officer Scott Simmons, said: ?We have already articulated our concern for this type of irresponsible reporting by quarters of our media and we encourage the Mid Ocean News to take the immediate, appropriate steps in the face of these serious allegations.

?The PLP along with its Government, will continue to emphasise, in light of the recent allegations, that the print and broadcast media need to move either immediately to regulate and monitor themselves or run the risk of a tiring public demanding that their Government offer additional oversight.?

He said Mr. Scott had done a service to the people of Bermuda by keeping them informed of the London discussions.

He said: ?The Party leader and Premier, along with his Party and Government, rightly and responsibly inform the people of Bermuda of this Government?s movements, talks and, or negotiations in London.?

Speaking to the he added: ?The next step is we need to hear from the Mid Ocean News. They need to make an entry on what has transpired and we are waiting.?

Mid Ocean News editor Tim Hodgson said in response: ?We stand by our story.? is continuing to make enquiries with British politicians and the UK Government to seek further clarification on the protocol arrangements of the OTCC sessions.