The fight against filling the top Police posts with foreigners is gaining support in Britain, Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade said yesterday.

Mr. Wade said several British Labour Party MPs had pledged to raise questions over the hirings.

These included Mr. Paul Boateng and Ms Diane Abbott, MPs for Brent South and Hackney North and Stoke Newington respectively.

Britain's Shadow Minister for Aid and Development, Mrs. Joan Lestor, meanwhile, had entered the fray as well.

She had written a letter of concern to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Mr. Tony Baldry, Mr. Wade announced.

In addition, Mr. Wade said Commonwealth Parliamentary Association member, Sir Anthony Durrant, MP, had spoken of support for the Progressive Labour Party.

"Sir Anthony noted that there were about 40 Members of Parliament on both sides of the House who would be only too willing to assist in the future should the PLP Members of Parliament require issues pertaining to Bermuda to be raised on their behalf on the floor of the House of Commons.'' Mr. Wade spoke of a possible compromise which the PLP would not oppose.

Under it, the Commissioner would be British, but the deputy Bermudian.

"Our ultimate goal is for both posts to be filled by Bermudians, but we would not stand in the way of this compromise.'' Mr. Wade said he and Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox received support for the PLP campaign against the hirings during a recent three-day London summit.

"We deem our trip as worthwhile.'' During the summit, they presented a 6,000-name petition to Mr. Baldry against the decision to appoint British Policemen to the positions of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

Mr. Wade said Mr. Baldry had made it clear he could not rescind the appointments since they had been approved by Governor Lord Waddington and the Public Service Commission.

Any move to alter that decision could only be termed as interference.

"He did not wish to go against the decision made by the man on the spot, the Governor.'' Added Mr. Wade: "However, after questioning from the PLP delegation as to the period of the appointments of these appointments, Mr. Baldry gave certain assurances which he is to confirm in writing to the Opposition leader.

"In particular, he indicated that the Commissioner of Police position would not be for an indefinite period but would be only a short-term appointment.

"When pressed to indicate how short-term was short-term especially given past experiences where people came to Bermuda to do one job and had their permits extended indefinitely, Mr. Baldry assured the PLP MPs that would not be the case here.

"He noted that he would clarify the position in writing by letter to the Opposition leader.

"Also he said that he would be coming to Bermuda to clarify certain other related issues in the Easter break.'' Mr. Wade said Mr. Baldry appeared to only have "sketchy'' information about Bermuda.

He did not have Bermuda "at his fingertips'' because the Island was perceived as unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Mr. Wade believed former Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly, who was present at the meeting, had played a part in the hiring decision.

Mr. Kelly's experience in Bermuda may have given him a big say in the matter.

Mr. Wade went on to say the PLP was still researching the background of the deputy Police Commissioner designate Mr. Michael Mylod, said to have served in Rhodesia.

And he vowed his party would keep the heat on Government over the hirings during the Budget debate.

"We will have motions put forward as part of the Budget to bring to bear some influence. This is not over yet.''