Bermudians For Referendum now have the signed support of more than half the voters from the last election and have pledged to march and even lobby in the UK if the Government refuses to listen.

Spokesman Mike Marsh challenged Premier Alex Scott to give an answer within a week over the call to hold a referendum on Independence.

If Mr. Scott says no, the group will step up its campaign.

?The next step could be to go to London or choose to do a march,? said Mr. Marsh. ?Whatever we do will be internationally received.?

He said he hoped the matter could be settled here although the Governor?s office has indicated that the Governor wants to stay out of the row.

Bermudians for Referendum (BFR) supporter Pat Ferguson said: ?If we march, we want everyone who signed to come out.?

Extra verified names had been added to a petition delivered four months ago to Premier Scott, who had claimed people didn?t know what they were signing.

Although Mr. Scott has since dropped hints about having a referendum on the day of an election, or one year after, BFR said it should be done before the polls.

The group has now collected 15,523 signatures or 52.6 percent of those who voted in the 2003 election and handed copies of the petition to both Mr. Scott and the Governor yesterday.

Mr. Marsh said: ?In our letter to the Premier delivered today, we have again requested that he immediately respond to the will of the people and announce, without beating about the bush, that we will have a referendum and will give the date when it will take place.?

Asked about this yesterday Premier Scott said he had not been in his office and had yet to see the latest petition and letter from BFR.

However, he said it would be considered ?through the democratic process? in due course and he anticipated making a comment at a later date.