The thorny topic of why four Guantánamo Bay prisoners were brought to Bermuda without Britain's permission could well be on the agenda when Premier Ewart Brown visits England next week.

Dr. Brown and Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque are travelling to the UK to meet British MPs and UK Government officials at the annual Labour Party conference in Brighton.

The Premier's decision to bring the Uighurs to the Island in June after direct negotiations with the US incurred the wrath of the UK, with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband telling the House of Commons: "The Government of Bermuda acted outside their competence."

Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette earlier this summer that he had yet to speak with the Foreign Secretary but intended to meet him when he visited England in September.

The Premier said: "I look forward to speaking to him directly. I would like to have an opportunity to personally explain Bermuda's position."

His press secretary Glenn Jones would not comment yesterday on whether a meeting with Mr. Miliband had been set up.

A statement issued by Mr. Jones described the Labour Party conference as one of the most high-profile events in Europe.

It quoted Dr. Brown as saying: "For four days next week the London office will be home base for me and the Cabinet Secretary. We will host meetings at the new office, attend meetings around the city and travel to Brighton for the Labour conference.

"Having the office in London allows our senior people to be as effective and efficient over there as they are here at home.

"Since we opened the office in London our communication with elected and non-elected officials in the UK has become more fruitful and that was one of our chief objectives."