The newly elected leader of the Cayman Islands has said that the introduction of a seat for Overseas Territories in the British Parliament would be a “retrograde step”.

According to a recent article by the Cayman Compass, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, the Premier, said she did not support the concept.

Ms O’Connor-Connolly said on Radio Cayman’s For the Record show: “I think that it’s much better if we took a collaborative approach — one that’s also based on the premise of consultation.”

She suggested that Cayman should build on its relationship with Britain rather than seek an MP for the Overseas Territories.

“All of our people can channel it up through their 19 representatives and then to the governor and so on,” she said.

“If necessary, the leaders — the leader of government as well as opposition — may sometimes go across there and have a conversation and negotiate.”

The question of representation was raised recently by the Commons Procedure Committee as part of inquiries into the territorial constitution.

During a session in October, the committee heard evidence that the OTs are concerned about decisions being made that may have an impact on them, but opinions differ within territories and between territories.