to be reinvented to lobby at the highest levels of Westminster.

The committee of British MPs will forge links with Bermudian lobbyists and politicians and help push Bermuda's case on key economic and political issues.

It means Bermuda will have a new communication link right to the heart of the UK Government.

And the group could even make Bermuda's claims on issues like British passports, independence and the right to keep check of its own financial and tax policies.

MP Ian Davidson, one of the British parliamentary delegates currently in Bermuda, revealed last night that the UK team would try to reconvene a special forum in Westminster to look after Bermudian interests.

The British Bermudian Parliamentary Group, founded by former Conservative Party MP Rupert Allason, has been dormant for several years.

And Bermuda has passed into the slipstream of smaller dependent territories like Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands and the Falklands who have built up an established presence within the Houses of Parliament.

Mr. Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok, told The Royal Gazette : "The MPs that are here have agreed that they will try to re-establish the British Bermudian Parliamentary Group and use that forum to maintain contact with Members of Parliament and Government in Bermuda, and help them present their case to the relevant authorities in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.'' Mr. Davidson, part of the UK Commonwealth Parliamentary Association team led by Lord Ashley, was speaking after yesterday's meeting with Bermuda Industrial Union officials.

It is understood the visiting UK group, which includes Labour MPs Jamie Cann, Jeffrey Ennis and Tony Wright, believe Bermuda's lobbying power in London has begun to fall flat.

But it is believed the group is convinced that Bermuda has tightened up its policies to combat financial crimes like fraud and money laundering.

And that could help Bermuda escape being placed on a "tax haven'' hitlist being compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The British Bermudian Parliamentary Group could also help raise the Island's trade union issues with the International Labour Organisation.

Mr. Davidson added: "All of the Labour Members of Parliament on this trip are strong trade unionists and that was the reason behind our meeting with the BIU today.

"We felt it important just to be making contact with them on our visit. We discussed a number of issues relating to ILO conventions and the problems of unionisation on an Island like Bermuda, particularly in the finance industry.

"We discussed a number of other matters related to British and Bermudian politics but we were unable to give them any categorical assurances.'' MPs revive lobby "What we are interested in is helping Bermuda present its best possible case.

"We cannot commit the UK Government to anything as there is a White Paper due out soon but it is definitely helpful having labour governments in power in both countries, where we can obviously share fraternal relations.'' PLP MP and BIU President Derrick Burgess said: "We have something in common as both groups belong to labour parties and believe in the conventions set out by the ILO.

"Those conventions have no real teeth here in Bermuda and our relationship can only help to improve that.'' The White Paper, which may include an offer of full British passports to dependent territory citizens, could be published early next month.

Lord Ashley, speaking in yesterday's Royal Gazette after a meeting with Jennifer Smith, said: "I will be participating in the debate and my views are very clear after meeting the Premier.

"Anything I can do to help I certainly will -- and that applies to all the members of the group here.''