The cost of renovating Big Ben has doubled.

[ippy]

Well I never just turned on the six o'clock BBC TV news and they're saying the cost of repairs to our Big Ben has doubled, I've never heard of any government repairs doubling ever before what a surprise.

The surprise is, for me, that it's only doubled, still that's today's news.

Can't remember about the gasworks of commons bill for renovation but I'll go for quadruple whatever the first estimate was.

How come these people seem totally unable to get somewhere close? I would think exact is unlikely to happen whoever does this type of estimate.

ippy   

[Shaker]

After hearing that said renovation is supposed to take four years I'm unsurprisable.

[Rhiannon]

Apparently Brexit has already massively increased the cost of raw materials. Copper's up 20%. Source: some plumbing magazine.

[ippy]

Apparently Brexit has already massively increased the cost of raw materials. Copper's up 20%. Source: some plumbing magazine.

There will always be something negative about brexit if anyone looks hard enough, but there, brexit did win the referendum.

ippy

[Sebastian Toe]

There will always be something negative about brexit if anyone looks hard enough, but there, brexit did win the referendum.

ippy

...and Hitler won the German popular vote in 1933.
Not that I'm drawing a direct comparison between ....oh fuck it, I am!

[Walter]

It's TIME to knock seven BELLS out of the quantity surveyor I think 

[ippy]

...and Hitler won the German popular vote in 1933.
Not that I'm drawing a direct comparison between ....oh fuck it, I am!

We had  vote for the E E C when Harold was about, when did we have a vote for ever closer ties with the E U, funny that, I'm sure there wasn't a chance to vote for that?

ippy

[Sebastian Toe]

We had  vote for the E E C when Harold was about, when did we have a vote for ever closer ties with the E U, funny that, I'm sure there wasn't a chance to vote for that?

ippy

Vote as in referendum or vote as in MPs voting on your behalf, you know the democracy system that we currently use?

[ippy]

Vote as in referendum or vote as in MPs voting on your behalf, you know the democracy system that we currently use?

They obviously weren't voting for the majority of the U K, as is now apparent.

ippy

[Sebastian Toe]

They obviously weren't voting for the majority of the U K, as is now apparent.

ippy

You can tell what the majority of the UK wanted back then?
Where's your verifiable proof ippy?

[ippy]

You can tell what the majority of the UK wanted back then?
Where's your verifiable proof ippy?

I don't need verifiable proof of it, none of us do, the choice has now been made by referendum as it should have been in relation to the E U in the first place, just as we leavers have been pressing for, for some time, oh yes, and we won!

ippy

[jeremyp]

There’s already a Brexit thread. Can this thread be about the Big Ben repairs please?

[Sebastian Toe]

I don't need verifiable proof of it, none of us do, the choice has now been made by referendum as it should have been in relation to the E U in the first place, just as we leavers have been pressing for, for some time, oh yes, and we won!

ippy

You are looking a bit like AB now ippy. Dancing the dance of the seven dodges!

Anyhoo, Big Ben. I'd say pull it down but that will probably cost more than the repairs!

[Harrowby Hall]

The whole of the Palace of Westminster is in a poor state. This is only the beginning.

As a building - a piece of architecture - it is superb and well worth restoring. As a seat for the national legislature it is an anachronistic monument. The best thing that could come out of this would be a new, purpose-built parliament building in which parliamentary business could take place efficiently, recognising that a building which is nearly 200 years old and modelled around medieval debating and managerial principles is ill-suited to the 21st century.

Let us have a new parliament building in - how about Milton Keynes or Redditch or Welwyn Garden City - and restore the Palace of Westminster as a theme park or hotel and apartment complex or shopping centre. Something which would generate revenue and pay for its repair and upkeep?

[Walter]

The whole of the Palace of Westminster is in a poor state. This is only the beginning.

As a building - a piece of architecture - it is superb and well worth restoring. As a seat for the national legislature it is an anachronistic monument. The best thing that could come out of this would be a new, purpose-built parliament building in which parliamentary business could take place efficiently, recognising that a building which is nearly 200 years old and modelled around medieval debating and managerial principles is ill-suited to the 21st century.

Let us have a new parliament building in - how about Milton Keynes or Redditch or Welwyn Garden City - and restore the Palace of Westminster as a theme park or hotel and apartment complex or shopping centre. Something which would generate revenue and pay for its repair and upkeep?

there's on old aircraft hangar in the north of England with Wi-Fi available . What more do they need?

[Udayana]

A move into the 21st century would be good start.

[ippy]

You are looking a bit like AB now ippy. Dancing the dance of the seven dodges!

Anyhoo, Big Ben. I'd say pull it down but that will probably cost more than the repairs!

Your response to my post isn't that surprising S T.

ippy

[ippy]

Somewhere in the centre of the U K with the necessary transport links  would make sense to me, but then there's the history connected with the buildings and the theme park idea seems reasonable too.

Perhaps put it to a referendum? I don't know what would be the best solution, there seems to be quite a few creative posters here, what do you think, how about you Sriram as an outsider, it'd be interesting to know about any sensible solutions.

It's certain to be mega expensive renovation.

ippy   

[Sebastian Toe]

Your response to my post isn't that surprising S T.

ippy

I don't find that astonishing ippy.

[jeremyp]

The new capital city of the UK is Milton Keynes?

Never going to happen.

[Harrowby Hall]

The new capital city of the UK is Milton Keynes?

No, the location of the legislative assembly, not the capital.

[Rhiannon]

No, the location of the legislative assembly, not the capital.

So when heads of state visit they have to go to Milton Keynes? Is this a new isolationist policy you're suggesting here?

[Udayana]

Luton airport is handily nearby

[Harrowby Hall]

So when heads of state visit they have to go to Milton Keynes? Is this a new isolationist policy you're suggesting here?

I think that it is totally in keeping with Theresa May's view of Brexit  ...

When heads of state visit, how many ever go to the Houses of Parliament? Some do, but not many. They go to Buckingham Palace, they might go to 10 Downing Street.

In the Netherlands, the capital city is Amsterdam (this is stated in the constitution of the Netherlands) but the parliament sits in The Hague. There is no reason at all why the legislative assembly should be in the principal ceremonial centre of a country. It might even do its job more effectively if it is elsewhere.

[Rhiannon]

I think that it is totally in keeping with Theresa May's view of Brexit  ...

When heads of state visit, how many ever go to the Houses of Parliament? Some do, but not many. They go to Buckingham Palace, they might go to 10 Downing Street.

In the Netherlands, the capital city is Amsterdam (this is stated in the constitution of the Netherlands) but the parliament sits in The Hague. There is no reason at all why the legislative assembly should be in the principal ceremonial centre of a country. It might even do its job more effectively if it is elsewhere.

No, it's totally in line with the view that MK is somewhere akin to the eternal loop of hell.

There are far more interesting places that are equally accessible. How about Cambridge?