Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s
https://www.politico.eu/article/final-decision-on-fate-of-crumbling-uk-parliament-delayed-to-2030s/
Posted by Sir_Bantersaurus
Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s
https://www.politico.eu/article/final-decision-on-fate-of-crumbling-uk-parliament-delayed-to-2030s/
Posted by Sir_Bantersaurus
18 Comments
This is a scandal in the making when something happens to this building and nothing was done to prevent it.
Westminster is the symbol and heart of the British Government. For once i would not mind them spending my money to fix it probably. Means full decant but if their going to do the job do it right.
**It is a hugely important and very beautiful building, and we must find the money needed to protect and restore it.**
We should plan and build a new Parliamentary building, primarily to permanently house the second chamber (House of Lords), but could be large enough to take much of the House of Commons requirements in the interim. While the original HoP is restored to its full glory.
Find a large brownfield site, well served by the tube, and build a new Parliamentary complex. This should include sufficient purpose-built flats for all MPs to receive one as part of their remuneration.
The London equivalent of Notre Dame when it goes up or falls down. I cant see anybody funding for a rebuild like Notre Dame though.
If they decide to demolish it, I only hope they use explosives, on November 5th.
Let’s be honest, it’ll eventually be demolished and rebuilt into some abhorrent brutalist architecture to remind us we don’t matter, at the cost of billions, which will be pocketed by whichever government officials can get their fingers in that pie.
When the place burns down because of an electrical fault then let’s come back to this thread!
For the love of god. Can no one in government make a decision?
This is emblematic of why nothing gets done in this country.
I went there last week for a meeting with MPs, my local MP took me for a tour and there’s some incredible bits the architecture is up there with Bath Abbey.
I also saw two mice in the the canteen
The parliament needs to be moved temporarily, perhaps a large conference venue, and the entire building need to be vacated to allow full, unrestricted access and work.
Perfect microcosm for the state of the nation.
Managed decline rather than any serious attempt to confront big issues.
My god just do it.
The costs won’t magically come down, the government won’t magically suddenly have money, the building won’t magically sort itself out or magically become easier to restore.
Just do it.
I am sick and tired of governments saying “now’s not the time, we need to postpone, cut, wait”
Wait for what? The country is not magically going to have more money, especially when every project is being postponed or cut.
Things are only going to get worse. Demographics, economics, environmental, conflict, instability are all literal crisis peering round the corner.
The time will never be right so what’s the point in this country or union? There will always be an issue or problem. Politicians need humbling.
Country is in a spiral of decay and postponement. The politicians are criminally negligent or completely willfully negligent. The whole system from parish to Westminster is inept, incompetent and unable to run a village or country. It’s to an insanely maddening situation when the King a mostly ceremonial and diplomatic role has more forward thinking, bold and innovative ideas than the government who are paid to literally do this.
And soon to be kicked down the road unto the 2040s
You really couldn’t construct a better symbol of where the country is if you tried.
As someone who occasionally goes there for work, it needs fixing yesterday.
Demolishing it isn’t realistic, moving the government elsewhere isn’t realistic.
Obviously there will be a media shitstorm when a decision is finally made, and endless articles about how much extra pensioners could get with the money etc, but the public needs to accept it needs doing, and let the government get on with it.
People have a weird idea that only the 650 MPs work there, but there are thousands of people working there and visiting. Like it or not, central London is accessible to a vast chunk of the population. And the palace is a genuinely iconic symbol of the country and of parliamentary democracy.
Turn it into a museum and build a new parliament in a more central city.
As a metaphor for the country this really is quite breathtaking.
The only reason the clocktower (with Big Ben in it) was repaired, was it was about ready to collapse.
And the rest of the Palace is about ready to do the same.
It needs everyone to move out so they can do it – the costs aren’t gonna magically get lower purely because of the length of time they have left it go to wrack and ruin but because its Grade I listed building and a World Heritage site.
Yes folk are gonna complain at the cost – folk always will – but as others say do they really want it collapsing killing MPs, Lords, Staff or visitors just walking by??
Like Buck Palace much of the wiring and plumbing dates back to bodge jobs they did during the war after the chamber was hit during the Blitz.
Now Id prefer they moved the Commons out of London altogether during the refurb, or at least hold part of each session outside London. But it would be cheaper and shorter to remove both chambers at the same time and hold elsewhere as planned.
If Canada can do it, so can we.
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