Government is to push ahead with constitutional change despite a petition with around one fifth of the electorate calling for the issue to be put to a constitutional conference and referendum.

A United Bermuda Party-organised petition now has 7,821 names but last night Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said Government would not change its course as it seeks to put in single seat constituencies and reduce the number of MPs.

Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon said a 4,000-name petition over the McDonald's issue had caused the PLP, then in opposition, to censure then-Premier David Saul.

Ms Gordon said names were still coming in. She said: "We have at least one fifth of the electorate -- the equivalent of about 8 million signatures in the UK.'' But Mr. Scott said: "We have taken as many as that to the UK on similar issues and they have said thank you, we have received those signatures but the Government of the day has the mandate.

"We accepted that when they were in Government. We won't change our course.

"Those signatures are a healthy part of the democratic function but it doesn't change things.'' Proposals to change Bermuda's Constitution are already being considered by the Foreign Office. But it may be several months before there is any news on the possible changes, as UK Government lawyers pore over the details of the amendments.

And it has been revealed that the motion will not go forward until officials and lawyers have considered all the petitions, letters and Opposition suggestions on the subject.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney confirmed that the motion passed by the House of Assembly had now been lodged with London, after being forwarded by Governor Thorold Masefield.

Govt. to ignore UBP petition Foreign Office spokesman Rosemary Waugh said there would be ongoing dialogue, adding that Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Baroness Patricia Scotland would be closely involved.

Mr. Gurney said it would take time for the Foreign Office to consider all the information before them, especially as the procedure was not routine and bearing in mind the implications of what may happen.

"The Foreign Office will look at it and consider what next steps are necessary,'' he said. "I wouldn't anticipate any progress before the New Year.'' And when asked how long the entire process might take, he said it would not be days or weeks.

"It is not routine. It will take time. They would want to get it absolutely right. You don't want to screw up the Constitution.'' He said they would want to see what effect changing one section of the Constitution may have on other parts.

After considering all the documents, the Foreign Office will send a paper to the Privy Council for consideration.

However, both Ms. Waugh and Mr. Gurney said there would likely be ongoing discussions before that happened, as the FO went through the proposals.

And there is the possibility that they could ask for more details from the Government or even further debate to satisfy themselves that the public have been consulted.

"They may want to go back to the Government to clarify things. There would be some kind of discussion process in the next few weeks to fine tune it,'' said Mr. Gurney.

"It could, in theory, come back. The Foreign Office made it clear what they expect to take place, their assessment has to be reached -- that hurdle has been jumped.''