December 1: Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) were to take their case against conscription to the Privy Council – Bermuda's highest court of appeal. The campaigners vowed to fight on after losing their case in the Court of Appeal in November. This followed Mr. Justice Ground's Supreme Court ruling in March that mandatory service in the Bermuda Regiment did not break the law.

December 4: Government awarded 100 blue-collar workers a five percent pay rise, backdated to the start of the year. Bermuda Industrial Union workers in Works and Engineering and the Parks departments, plus custodians, golf course attendants, postal and bus employees were to benefit.

December 5: Charlie Swan won the Southampton West Central by-election, retaining the seat for the United Bermuda Party. The Progressive Labour Party's Marc Bean was the runner-up while Raymond Davis, an Independent, came in third. The by-election was a result of former MP Jon Brunson resigning in October due to work commitments.

December 6: UBP MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and PLP MP Zane DeSilva almost came to blows in the House of Assembly, with fellow politicians having to step in to break up a potential fight.

The two began shouting at one another, furious at comments the other had made during the Motion to Adjourn. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told the House that in the run-up to the by-election, ZBM television news had asked her to confirm a story that Mr. DeSilva was "offering jobs in exchange for votes" for PLP candidate Marc Bean.

Mr. DeSilva said: "The honourable member has been talking about audacity but to talk about a rumour – she should be sent to her room."

He said he earned his money honestly, as did his wife. But Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin then told The Royal Gazette she understood this to be a "nasty" reference to her estranged husband Dennis Pamplin, who is facing criminal charges for an alleged attempted drug smuggling in the US.

Mr. DeSilva said their wrangle began because the Opposition MP crossed the Lower Chamber pointing her finger at him after the Speaker had left. "Quite frankly, I should have just walked away but it didn't happen," he said.

Both made a public apology the following week in the House of Assembly.

December 8: Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief launched a lawsuit after being rejected for the post of Solicitor General in favour of a non-Bermudian.

The 64-year-old lawyer was suing the Public Service Commission (PSC), Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Attorney General Kim Wilson for allegedly "unlawfully" appointing Barrie McKay from the UK. He claimed he was the only Bermudian to apply for the $156,000-a-year job, and that he was more than qualified, but for political reasons was not considered.

December 9: Former United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert quit the UBP.

Mr. Furbert said he was disappointed at his Party's failure to reform and reinvent itself after losing the December 2007 General Election. He was now to sit as an Independent MP.

December 11: Cabinet was to review the six-year work permit term limit for expatriates.

Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, David Burch, told the Senate the review could include "possible adjustments for their (the Cabinet's) consideration".

He said Government was reviewing the policy, based on a commissioned report by the Bermuda Employers' Council on the national workforce, and recommendations by its own legal team at the Attorney General's Chambers.

Human Rights Commission chair Venous Memari called for the organisation to be made independent from Government.

She described the HRC, whose members are currently appointed on the advice of the Premier, as "an arm's length agency of Government".

Ms Memari said independence would ensure that complaints were investigated without the threat of political pressure or influence from people with a stake in the investigations.

Culture Minister Dale Butler told The Royal Gazette Ms Memari's views would be taken into consideration as Government works on a reform of the Human Rights Act.

December 12: Vandals struck the graveyard of St. Peter's Church in St. George's, toppling tombstones dating back to the 1700s. Two gravestones were unearthed and another three disturbed.

Western Stars Sports Club President Nathan Richardson was recovering in hospital after being beaten up by members of his own club.

The 33-year-old had to undergo surgery for a broken jaw and other facial injuries. His attackers were allegedly spotted engaging in anti-social behaviour near the Pembroke clubhouse and, when confronted by Mr. Richardson, reacted violently.

December 16: Vandals toppled another nine gravestones at St. Peter's Church – the second incident in a week.

The church had just paid $400 to fix the tombstones. Rev. David Raths said: "This time they hardly gave the cement a chance to harden-up before they did it again. Hopefully this will be the last time."

December 17: Park Hyatt signed a management agreement with developer Carl Bazarian to run a new five-star hotel at the former Club Med site in St. George's. The signing formalised the deal at a time when question marks were being raised over other hotel projects, due to the global credit crunch.

December 20: A law to let bankrupt lawyers practise in Bermuda was passed in the Senate, following its approval a week earlier in the House of Assembly.

The Bermuda Bar Amendment Act 2008 will allow attorneys who have been declared bankrupt to continue to work. Members of the legal profession however, said they had not been given enough time to review the Bill and confer.

The Act repeals provisions of the Bermuda Bar Act 1974, which prevents an undischarged bankrupt from practising. However, the lawyers have to follow certain conditions, such as not practising real estate law or operating trust accounts.