Governor Sir John Vereker has turned down Premier Ewart Brown?s request to hold half of their weekly meetings at the Cabinet building.

The format for the weekly discussions has always been for the Premier to go to Government House but Dr. Brown suggested alternating between locations to ?reduce the tension that naturally accompanies our constitutional relationship?.

He made the suggestion at his first meeting with Sir John in late October after ousting Alex Scott as Progressive Labour Party leader.

But yesterday Deputy Governor Mark Capes said the switch had been ruled out as ?not appropriate? and he declined to comment further.

It?s thought Government House is keen to play down any potential row as both leaders prepare to head off to London next week for scheduled talks with Island colleagues.

Dr. Brown will lead a Government delegation to the Overseas Territories Consultative Council next Tuesday and Wednesday which is likely to discuss such issues as disaster preparedness, climate change, good governance and the links with the European Union and access to EU funds.

Dr. Brown and other leaders will also have a meeting with Lord Triesman, the Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories.

Sir John will also sit in on some sessions before taking part in the two-day conference of Governors from Caribbean territories.

One Government source said pro-independence Premiers such as Sir John Swan had always had an uneasy relationship with the Governor.

?It isn?t in the interests of anybody who aspires to take Bermuda to independence to have a cosy relationship with the Governor.?

The source said it was a better tactic to try to provoke the Governor into taking a decision which might be unpalatable to voters but no Governor had yet fallen into that trap.

?I think Dr. Brown would like people to look at both positions being equal but that is not right,? said the source. ?One is the head of State while one is the head of Government.?