Shadow Minister for Legislative Affairs, John Barritt remains unconvinced.

Mr. Barritt, in a diary in today's Royal Gazette outlining last week's talks at Government House, concluded that a Constitutional Conference -- which the UBP has consistently maintained is the proper course to follow for major constitutional change -- is "not very likely''.

"Any possibility of a constitutional conference, if ever there was one.

almost certainly now appears to be a lost cause,'' he said, in an entry for the first day of the talks. "The call for a referendum doesn't seem to have found much favour either.'' Contacted by The Royal Gazette Deputy Governor Tim Gurney reiterated the stance of FCO deputy legal advisor Ian Hendry that a Constitutional Conference or a referendum is "neither ruled in nor ruled out''.

The FCO team which led the talks are recommending a two step process for constitutional change -- the first being to amend the constitution to allow the Boundaries Commission to re-draw parliamentary constituencies and reduce the number of seats.

Mr. Barritt told The Royal Gazette that he was providing the journal for publication so that the people of Bermuda would "have a better idea of what went on last week at Government House. It's that simple. The United Bermuda Party also believes people should also know where the Opposition stood on the issues which were raised''.

The journal is incomplete -- it does not, for example, reveal the content of the private submissions at Government House. But it paints a picture of extreme scepticism among the UBP hierarchy of the intentions of the FCO team and a disillusionment with the proceedings.

UBP pessimistic over the electoral reform process Mr. Barritt told The Royal Gazette that it represented his personal sentiments and not necessarily that of the UBP.

And it claims that Deputy Governor Tim Gurney's report that the talks were proceeding "positively'' and that meaningful dialogue had taken place on "all the issues'' was untrue.

"He (Mr. Gurney) had even gone so far as to comment that the two parties had discussed "all the issues'' and "all the proposals that had been raised'', including the concerns raised at the public forums on Monday and Tuesday, and the written submissions.'' wrote Mr. Barritt in a Day Three entry.

"This was news to us in the Opposition. After all we had met for less than two hours in the morning and there had been very little by way of a discussion on anything -- other than which party had the correct understanding of how we were supposed to have proceeded.'' Mr. Gurney told The Royal Gazette that he believed that Mr. Hendry had been "spot on''.

He said a Constitutional Conference or a referendum would depend on the outcome of the Boundaries Commission report on the re-drawing of constituencies.

The Boundaries Commission will be charged with coming up with single seat constituencies and reducing the number of MPs.

"When we know what the numbers are then we'll know whether we should have a Constitutional Conference or a referendum or whatever,'' Mr. Gurney said.

"I think his (Ian Hendry's) point that it's fair and logical is spot on.'' However, the United Bermuda Party's official response to the FCO's final draft proposals on constitutional change said that the number of parliamentarians should not be left to the Boundaries Commission.

The UBP wants the number of MPs to be decided by consensus between the Government and the Opposition and then put to a referendum.

The UBP concerns on a constitutional conference or a referendum were not reflected in the FCO team's final draft proposal. But the draft does include provision for the Commission to seek the views of the public.

The Opposition's response also includes a call for a written commitment from the British Government as to what further consultation will take place after the first stage of constitutional change.

And, pointing out that submissions by private individuals were not made the subject of the talks, it asks the FCO to provide a list of the submissions.

The draft also contains provisions for strengthening the independence of the ombudsman.

The FCO team has returned to London and will report its findings and recommendations to the British Government.