Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon last night challenged Government to go for a non-party approach in dealing with the UK's new deal for the colonies -- and full consultation with the UBP.

She said: "This issue for Bermuda is greater than the PLP or the UBP -- however, we understand that the Government is not comfortable with giving the UBP access to information at this time.'' Ms Gordon admitted the PLP may have felt left out when the then-UBP Government started negotiations with the UK over what became a White Paper outlining a new relationship.

But Ms Gordon said: "These were early discussions -- this is a matter for Government and they make the decisions.

"However, the views of a large part of the Bermuda population will be under-represented if there isn't a bipartisan relationship on this matter.'' Ms Gordon was speaking after the second of a series of Opposition road shows on the implications of the UK White Paper for Bermuda.

She told an audience of more than 50 at St. Mary's Church Hall in Warwick: "This is not about politics. It's about the future of our Country and our people -- citizenship and citizenry.'' The British White Paper -- unveiled in March -- offers full rights to live and work in Britain to the peoples of the Overseas Territories and an end to second-rate British Dependent Territories Citizenship.

But it also wants tough international-standard financial regulation and UK/Euro-style human rights legislation -- including an end to hanging and flogging, both still legal in Bermuda.

Ms Gordon told the audience: "We are concerned that the Opposition at this point is kept completely out of the loop.

`We represent at least 45 percent of the electorate and we should have a place in relation to having a say into any of the debates.

"This should be non-partisan and we should form some kind of structure which takes forward Bermuda's position.'' Former PLP candidate Rodney Smith, who attended the meeting, said the two road shows had attracted strong support from UBP supporters -- especially white ones.

But he called on UBP sympathisers to come out and attend other meetings on the issue -- including ones which may be organised by the Government.

Opposition Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt said Government's four month silence on the White Paper, allied with the ambiguous nature of the document's language had led to "speculation'' -- especially over the future of the Island's money-spinning international sector.

And he said on citizenship that the White Paper suggested in one part that there would be a "right of election'' over full UK passports -- but in another section it said that citizenship would become automatic after a UK Act of Parliament was passed, although it added people can choose to opt out.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said onshore territories, including the UK, were all worried about the millions of dollars leaking out of their tax base and flowing offshore.

And he said many bodies -- including multi-national financial watchdog the OECD -- appeared to have difficulty differentiating between offshore territories tainted by scandal and drugs money with Bermuda, which is well-regulated.

The last in the current series of Opposition meetings will be held in Hamilton's Cathedral Hall tonight, starting at 7.30 p.m.