Nearly 70 Bermudian students studying in the UK were treated to an evening of class and glamour in the UK House of Commons on Friday night ? all thanks to Premier Alex Scott and the Bermuda Government.

Between the Premier trumpeting ?Onion? achievements, a live performance by Shine Hayward in the Churchill Room, and lottery prizes such as Ipod Nanos and round-trip air tickets home, it is safe to say there was not a boring moment.

The evening was topped off with the announcement that Government had placed the Bermudians on the guest list at ChinaWhite, one of London?s premier nightclubs.

The students were only too happy to make full use of the offer.

?When Premier Alex Scott first began this event in 2003 he indicated that he was very interested in listening to our concerns and ideas for the future of our country,? third-year law student Liana Hall told her fellow students.

?We obviously didn?t harass him enough with those ideas the first time around and every year since he has continued to provide us with the opportunity to meet in London.?

The event was touted as the grand finale of Mr. Scott?s annual trip to London to participate in the Overseas Territories Consultative Council ? and Mr. Scott maintained it was the best part of the trip.

With cocktails and then dinner in the Churchill Room, the students were able to mingle with the Premier while dining on the best the House of Commons has to offer.

?Being spoiled is something we often miss while away from our families in rainy London,? Ms Hall observed.

Though Mr. Scott?s comments were humorous and patriotic, Ms Hall ? the daughter of lawyer and former Progressive Labour Party MP Julian Hall ? did not shy away from some pointed comments in her speech thanking the Premier.

Housing, for example, continues to be a ?formidable obstacle? facing young Bermudians who want to return home.

London also has sky-high rents, she said. ?However there is one difference. The supply in this city can meet the demand.

?On an island of 21 square miles this is far from true especially when we are in bidding wars against ex-pats with housing allowances.

?Nearly everyone I speak to intends to live at home with their parents when they return to the island for as long a period as is necessary. For some that prospect is not always readily available and furthermore we shouldn?t have to rely on it.?

Despite recent polls showing that the majority of both blacks and whites are against Independence, she said the races were polarised on the issue.

And, though first admitting she has not yet read the 600-page BIC report, she declared her disappointment in media coverage the report has received.

?The focus seems to be too much on whether the information is biased, what minor mistakes or glorified typos are contained within it, and whether the Government is pushing for Independence rather than what we really need to know ? what the actual findings were.?

Ms Hall did appear to support some of the criticisms raised in the wake of the report?s release, however.

The media has reported on several contradictions and omissions within the report, including the fact that a section entitled ?The Benefits (of Independence)? was included while a section exploring the benefits of maintaining the status quo was not.

Later in her speech Ms Hall added: ?Whatever choice we make, the decision to maintain the status quo (as tempting as it is) should be as well-reasoned and as well-researched as the choice for Independence.?

?It is our generation who will be most affected by this decision and we have a duty to educate ourselves,? Ms Hall continued. ?If any of us are to lead our country one day we deserve to know how far we can take it.

?The question we all need to ask ourselves is ?What does Independence mean to me??. No one, not the Government, not the Opposition, not , can answer that for you.?