The British Government has confirmed its preferred method for deciding the question of Independence is by way of a referendum.

Government House has not yet officially released the policy memorandum distributed to all territory governors last week, although a copy of United Kingdom Overseas Territories Minister Bill Rammell's statement is in the possession of The Royal Gazette.

The comments come in the aftermath of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council held in London last September, when the issue of Independence and the means by which it should be decided were at the very top of the agenda.

“As the grant of Independence by the UK requires the prior approval of Parliament, the UK Government needs to be satisfied that, if a territory moves to Independence, it does so on the basis of the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the people,” Mr. Rammell said on Friday.

“The move to Independence is a fundamental step. Increasingly in the UK, major constitutional issues of this kind are being put to a referendum. At this time, the presumption of the UK Government is that a referendum would be the way of testing opinion in those territories where Independence is an option. But a final decision on whether to go the referendum route, and what form the referendum might take, would need to be determined by the UK on a case-by-case basis, reflecting the uniqueness and individual characteristics of each territory.”

The announcement looks set to apply further pressure on Premier Alex Scott and the Progressive Labour Party Government, who have made it clear they favour determining the question of sovereignty through a General Election.

Contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday, Mr. Scott said he had not yet been informed by Governor John Vereker of the statements' contents, and he would not comment publicly until he received the information “through the proper channels”.

But United Bermuda Party leader Grant Gibbons welcomed the announcement, arguing a referendum represented the clearest and most “unambiguous” method of unearthing Bermuda's stance on the issue.

“I look forward to seeing the formal statement when it is released by the Governor,” he said last night.

“But we in the United Bermuda Party are pleased to hear that the UK's preferred route to Independence is through a referendum as we have always believed it represents the purest form of democracy, one which is becoming the method of choice world-wide to decide major issues. The ratification of the new European Union constitution is to be decided by referendum in the UK... while I notice with interest that Owen Arthur, the Prime Minister of Barbados, has now decided to hold a referendum on the question of Barbados becoming a republic. That is why the UBP Government chose to hold a referendum in 1995 on Independence and why we believe it is still appropriate. It presents a clear and unambiguous reflection of the will of the people and does not confuse things with the complexity of issues attached to a General Election.”

Bermudians for Referendum organiser Michael Marsh was similarly enthused by the news, while revealing the group, which does not profess any affiliation to either political party, is half-way to its goal of securing 20,000 signatures on a petition to be submitted to Government in the near future.

“That is fantastic news,” he said.

“I'm so pleased the British Government has come out as they have as it shows that common sense prevailed. We have had thousands of people of all colours and from all parts of Bermuda come forward and sign the petition - and we are not done yet.”