Opposition MP warned last night.

And UBP Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt said: "Our main goal must be to establish what's inside -- until then, we need to reserve judgment.'' Mr. Barritt added that Government's almost total silence on the White Paper had added to unease over the document -- which offers full UK citizenship, but with demands for UK/Euro-style financial and human rights law.

He said: "What the Government has to do is report back to us, the people... so far, our position is that they have failed to do this.

"I believe it's this ongoing silence coupled with the vagueness of this document which causes concern.

"We must establish the benefits and the price to be paid before we take any decisions.'' Mr. Barritt was speaking at the first of a series of UBP road shows designed to help explain the implications of the UK new deal, held before an audience of around 100 in St. George's Towne Hall.

And Opposition leader Pamela Gordon, Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and Mr. Barritt united to demand Government breaks its silence on the White Paper now -- and fully brief Bermuda on the results of the first Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting in London in the autumn.

Ms Gordon said: "We have no excuse in this country, with the highly-educated population we have, not to tell people what's going on.'' Mr. Barritt said that the terms of the Council read "like an open invitation'' -- which includes Constitutional change.

And he asked whether the ruling PLP would bring up its General Election manifesto commitment to get rid of single seat constituencies -- slashing the size of the House of Assembly -- electoral reform or the abolition or changing of Senate.

Dr. Gibbons said an in-depth review of Bermuda's financial and regulatory framework was scheduled by "independent consultants'' hired by Britain would likely be held before the end of the year.

And he warned that -- although full details were yet to emerge -- a European Union directive to member states demanding cross-border taxation or the provision of information on nationals' savings incomes held in other EU countries might affect Bermuda.

Dr. Gibbons pointed out that more than 50 percent of foreign exchange earnings was due to offshore business, while 40 percent of jobs were dependent on the booming sector.

And he added that the multi-nation Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the UN and the powerful G7 group of the world's major economic powers were also looking at the offshore issue.