Wednesday, 15 January 2020

Boris Johnson’s Big Ben Brexit bong plan falls flat | Politics


An lively if maybe area of interest marketing campaign to make sure the chimes of Large Ben sound in the meanwhile of Brexit on 31 January seems doomed after Commons authorities performed down the thought, whereas a funding plan promised by Boris Johnson to pay for it turned out to not exist.

Staunchly pro-Brexit Tories reminiscent of Mark Francois and a few newspapers have known as for prolonged restoration work on the parliamentary clocktower to be paused so the bell can sound at 11pm, marking the second the UK leaves the EU.

A collection of donors have pledged to assist cowl the price of restoring the currently-dismantled clock mechanism for the night time. Chatting with BBC One’s Breakfast on Tuesday, Johnson stated the federal government was “working up a plan so individuals can bung a bob for a Large Ben bong”.

However in a press release, the Home of Commons Fee, which organises the day-to-day working of parliament, stated the bell was “unlikely” to sound on 31 January, partly as a result of estimated price of £500,000 to make it occur.

Work wanted would come with restoring the clock chime mechanism, testing it, and constructing a brief ground within the belfry to permit the work to happen. This may in flip delay the continued conservation work by as much as 4 weeks, costing £100,000 alone.

Lindsay Hoyle, the brand new Commons Speaker, who chairs the fee, stated the general price would imply “you might be speaking about £50,000 a bong”.

He stated: “We even have to keep in mind that the one individuals who will hear will probably be those that reside close to or are visiting Westminster.”

It later emerged that Johnson’s “plan” for a public fund to finance the work doesn’t exist.

Requested in regards to the concept, the PM’s spokesman stated: “If the general public need Large Ben to bong, and the cash is raised then that’s nice. We’ll ensure that no matter occurs in regard to Large Ben’s bongs, 31 January is correctly marked. It’s a important second in our historical past.”

Pressed on whether or not an official plan truly existed, he stated: “There isn’t a selected authorities fund.”



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