Premier Paula Cox is “cynical” about the British Government’s desire for closer links with its Overseas Territories, a visiting British MP revealed.Andrew Rosindell paid a three-day visit to Bermuda this week in his capacity as chairman of the British Overseas Territories Parliamentary Group.He met with Ms Cox on Monday, and revealed afterwards: “She and I had a frank exchange of views about the relationship between the UK and Bermuda.”Mr Rosindell is a backbencher in the Conservative party, which took power in Britain last May in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, ousting the Labour Party after 13 years at the helm.Mr Rosindell said the new Government wants a “modern relationship, not a colonial one” with its 21 territories and dependencies across the globe.He said it values the link with Bermuda, as the oldest British overseas territory and the largest in terms of population.“We think it’s very important to work together to strengthen those ties for the benefit of Bermuda and also to ensure that Britain is fulfilling its responsibilities as the mother country as it were,” he said.During his meeting with Ms Cox: “We talked about the change of relationship or change of attitude of the new British Government towards the Overseas Territories and the Premier was cynical, she told me she was cynical because in the past British governments haven’t always lived up to expectations.“She particularly raised the point about the Foot report and how she felt there were inaccuracies in that report.”Michael Foot, a former Bank of England director, visited Bermuda in March 2009 to carry out an independent investigation of the Island’s financial centre.He said Bermuda had weaknesses in its efforts to tackle financial crime and highlighted the low level of prosecutions for financial crimes.Mr Rosindell did not comment on that report, but said in general terms: “I think there have been mistakes in the past. I think the Foreign Office haven’t always lived up to their responsibilities to the Overseas Territories, but that’s now changing.”Ms Cox has stated that while she favours Independence from Britain, it is on the back burner for now, while the economy, crime and unemployment are the key concerns.Mr Rosindell backs the right of the territories to gain Independence if they wish. However, he said the idea remains unpopular with Bermuda’s people in general and he does not see it happening in the foreseeable future.Meanwhile, he would like to focus on better representation for Bermuda’s citizens in the UK Parliament in London. Unlike other former colonial powers such as France, Denmark and Holland, the UK’s overseas territories do not have a voice in the UK Parliament.“There is a democratic deficit. I’m not sure it’s right that Britain can declare war on behalf of Bermuda, make foreign policy on behalf of Bermuda, sign up to international treaties and ultimately govern this territory, yet ultimately there is no direct way for Bermudians to have a say in any of these decisions,” said Mr Rosindell.He would like to see a formal standing committee in the UK Parliament to take representations from the territories and dependencies. Australia has a committee in its Parliament to deal with its territories, he noted.“Maybe if we had that mechanism, it would flag up issues we’ve had in other territories like the Turks and Caicos Islands, and give the overseas territories a voice. I think that’s a do-able option, although anything we do has got to be with the consent and agreement of the overseas territories,” he said.Asked for a comment on Ms Cox’s meeting with Mr Rosindell, her spokeswoman said: “In accordance with conventions and courtesies, details of a private meeting including the governor and the chairman of the British Overseas Territories All Party Parliamentary Group, Mr Rosindell, would not be disclosed. However, there was a general recognition of the need for there to be a credible, workable relationship on matters affecting Bermuda’s national interest.”lUseful websites: www.rosindell.com, www.gov.bm.