Guido’s come across a fascinating mini-documentary for you to pass some self-isolation time with this evening, as B1M shows us up close and personal how the renovation of Elizabeth Tower is coming along. The film was made in January this year and shows in detail the amount of effort and coordination it’s taking to scrub up the world’s most iconic clock. It looks like they’re doing a good job – though you’d expect so for £80 million…
Four days off Brexit day, the spearhead of the ‘Bung a bob for a big ben bong’ bid, Mark Francois, has finally admitted defeat that the campaign will fail. Despite loyal Brexiteers coughing up £270,000 of hard-earned cash for it…
The money raised – which fell short of the ludicrously high £500,000 being cited by the Commons – will now go towards Help for Heroes, and Brexiteers will instead have to settle for No. 10’s projected clock up against Downing Street. Brexiteers may not have won this battle, there’ll still be more than enough to celebrate on Friday night…
The biggest issue of our day continues to drag on – whether Big Ben will bong for Brexit. Despite Boris promising the Government was looking at a way for people to bung a bob for a Big Ben bong, it took StandUp4Brexit to launch an official crowdfunder last night, which in 14 hours has raised £47,000 from 3,300 people – £1,000 of which came from Mark Francois. Only £450,000 to go…
Unfortunately for those 3,300 people, it looks like a new hurdle has been put up, as Commons officials have said they will refuse any public cash to pay for the installation of the Big Ben bonger, saying there is “no legal basis” for them to accept public donations. Scrooges…
Not only might Big Ben not bong, but it sounds like Farage’s planned Parliament Square party won’t be as explosive as hoped; as Farage and Tice’s application to launch fireworks from a barge on the Thames fizzles out following officials at the Port of London Authority – which manages the Thames – refusing permission. Tice has had to put out a public plea to anyone in the Westminster area with a balcony or roof to launch fireworks off instead. Anyone lucky enough to have the property, get in touch…
UPDATE:
Big Ben Brexit bongs latest: Downing St pulls the plug by saying "intransigence" of Commons officials means it won't happen. Blame game begins after Boris ramped up "bung a bob for Big Ben Brexit bongs" two days ago.
— Gordon Rayner (@gordonrayner) January 16, 2020
Boris’s Bonkers ‘Bung a Bob for a Big Ben Bong’ Bid Binned
Boris told BBC Breakfast this morning that Number 10 is “working on a plan” so that the public can “bung a bob for a Big Ben bong” – or in other words crowdfund the half a million pound cost. Lord Ashcroft has already promised to underwrite the success of any crowdfund attempt…
Now all we need are some fireworks and the bars to stay open late…
Hat-tip: Telegraph
As was announced by Parliamentary Authorities last week, Elizabeth Tower has begun the prolonged process of shedding some of its cladding. To the palpable relief of tourists who have experienced years of photographic disappointment…
This week, parliamentarians arrived in Westminster to see the tower’s spire had been uncladded, with more of the rooftop to be revealed over the next five weeks. Those opposed to Big Ben’s new rustic, utilitarian vibe, however, will be pleased to learn the scaffolding is still a long way from coming off entirely in 2021. Guido’s sure Extinction Rebellion will mourn the loss…
