Britain’s prime minister and foreign secretary reiterated their unwavering support for Bermuda and the other British Overseas Territories during talks last week, a statement from the Bermuda Government said yesterday.

David Burt travelled to London from November 18 to 22 and met Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, respectively, along with other British Government officials and leaders of the OTs.

The Premier attended the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council and took part in engagements focused on financial services and the banking sector.

“Last week’s meetings were invaluable opportunities to meet the new Overseas Territories minister, share the Bermuda story with key UK business sectors and collectively reinforce critical matters of importance,” Mr Burt said.

The Premier’s trip began at the UK Overseas Territories Association Political Council, which affords OT leaders an opportunity to convene before the JMC.

Mr Burt said: “This was a good precursor for OT leaders. We discussed issues of priorities on behalf of each of our countries and, where possible, found areas of agreement to collectively address.

“We also acknowledged the 30th anniversary of UKOTA, during which time Bermuda has held the chairmanship on three occasions through our UK representative, Kimberley Durrant.”

The Premier also held a bilateral meeting with Stephen Doughty, the Minister for the Overseas Territories.

Mr Burt said he talked about "the process for advancing the constitutional changes related to immigration as outlined in the Government’s Throne Speech“.

He added: “Minister Doughty and I also discussed the UK’s support for Bermuda’s international financial services industry as a key part of Bermuda’s economy, which now employs a record number of Bermudians.”

Rena Lalgie, the Governor, referenced in the Throne Speech a 2016 court ruling that “overturned longstanding practice that the Department of Immigration was involved in the granting of belonger status in Bermuda”.

Ms Lalgie said the courts had allowed “non-Bermudian residents to apply directly to the United Kingdom Government to become naturalised” as BOTCs.

She said the Bermuda Government believed the decision should be brought back under its purview.

The JMC meetings, the first under the new British government, began midweek and focused on “resetting the relationship” between Britain and the OTs.

Talks covered security and irregular migration, climate and the environment, economic diversification and resilience, illicit finance and sanctions, and human development.

Mr Burt said: “These key discussions enabled me to have direct dialogue with a range of ministers from across Whitehall departments including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office, the Treasury, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

“I was very encouraged by the discussions and hopeful that our meetings can foster new opportunities to expand our relationship.”

The Premier met Sir Keir and Mr Lammy at the JMC, when the Prime Minister confirmed to the OTs an “ … ironclad commitment to democratic autonomy and your right to self-determination”.

A joint communique from Britain and the Overseas Territories that detailed the outcomes of the 2024 JMC is on the British Government website.

Mr Burt also met John Neal, the chief executive of Lloyd’s of London.

The government statement said that during the engagement, CatX Capital and Cactus, Bermudian-based companies that started in the Lloyds Lab, had the opportunity to “showcase their innovative work to the Premier”.

The Premier also met Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, alongside Sir Andrew Large, vice-chairman of the Financial Policy Council, Craig Swan, chief executive of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, and Chidozie Ofoego, the Financial Secretary.

Mr Burt took part in a fireside chat at the Bermuda Society’s annual dinner.

The Premier returned to the island on Friday.

The Bermuda delegation on the trip included Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, Major Marc Telemaque, the Secretary to the Cabinet, and Aideen Ratteray Pryse, the economy and labour ministry’s permanent secretary.

Ms Durrant, the UK representative at Bermuda’s London Office, and Brandon Sousa, the deputy UK representative, also accompanied Mr Burt.