PM Boris Johnson proposes crowdfunding to allow Big Ben to bong for Brexit
Big Ben clock tower
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday proposed acrowdfundingcampaign toallowBigBenbell in parliament’s landmark clock tower to ring out when Britain is due to leave the European Union.
The 13.7-tonne bell has been largely silent since 2017 while renovation work is carried out on the Elizabeth Tower which houses it, sounding only for important events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The prime minister was speaking after a House of Commons Commission dismissed the proposal for the bell to sound forBrexitbecause it would be too expensive.
Johnson said it would cost 500,000 pounds ($648,450) toallowBigBento sound at 2300 GMT on January31, the momentBrexitis officially due to take place. But he said people could donate cash to pay for it.
"We are working up a plan so people can bung a bob for aBigBenbong," Johnson told the BBC in an interview.
"As everybody knows,BigBenis being refurbished, they seem to have taken the clapper away. So we need to restore the clapper in order tobongBigBenonBrexitnight. And that is expensive."
The prime minister's suggestion comes after a group of pro-Brexitmembers of parliament spearheaded a campaign to chime Britain out of the EU, sounding the death knell for almost half a century of integration with the bloc.
But an attempt to have it enshrined in law thatBigBenwould chime forBrexitfailed last week.
The celebrations forBrexitday are set to divide Britain once again, a fitting conclusion to more than three years of angry debate about whether to leave the world’s largest trading bloc.
While supporters of leaving the bloc will celebrate with parties, there will be little joy in homes of pro-Europeans.
BrexitParty leader Nigel Farage is planning to host a party in Parliament Square on January 31 where supporters of leaving the EU would be able to hearBigBenring out.
More than 12,000 people applied for tickets in the first day after they were advertised last week.
BigBen's tower, in the Palace of Westminster, has been under renovation since 2017 and the work is not due to be completed until 2021.