Valerie Amos, 52, was born in Guyana but moved to England with her family when she was nine. After working in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services in local government in London, she became Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission from 1989-94.

Valerie Amos was created a life peer in 1997 and appointed as a Government Whip in the House of Lords in 1998. In addition to her role as a spokesperson on international development, she also spoke on social security and women?s issues.

She joined the Cabinet as International Development Secretary in May 2003 ? a job she got after the resignation of Clare Short over the Iraq war.

As a foreign office minister Baroness Amos had a key role canvassing African leaders in the run-up to the war in Iraq, travelling to Cameroon, Angola and Guinea to urge them to support the United States and Britain in the United Nations Security Council.

She then became Leader of the House of Lords and President of the Council in 2003. Last year the British government nominated her to head the UN Development Programme.

She could prove a popular choice for Bermuda, however, as one of the top 30 politicians in Britain?s Government a move now could be seen as a downward step for the 52-year-old who could be in line for further promotion in the inevitable reshuffle which will follow Tony Blair?s scheduled departure as Prime Minister next year.

Patricia Scotland, 50, was born in Dominica in 1956 and arrived in Britain aged two along with ten siblings. She was called to the Bar in 1977.

She was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997 and in a government reshuffle in 1999, was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where she was responsible for the British overseas territories and also relations with Southern Asian countries.

She was responsible for introducing the Bill to ratify the International Criminal Court in the United Kingdom. She also established a panel of lawyers who gave their time on a pro bonobasis to British citizens imprisoned in foreign countries.

In 2001 she became Parliamentary Secretary, in the Lord Chancellor?s Department and was made a member of the Privy Council.

Baroness Scotland was a contender for a cabinet position in 2003, when Tony Blair reportedly considered appointing her Leader of the House of Lords ? a position now ironically held by Baroness Amos

In 2003 Baroness Scotland was made Minister of State for the Criminal Justice system and Law Reform at the Home Office.

The fact she has family ties in the UK could make it less likely she would opt to move to Bermuda.