‘Silence of the Bongs’ row grows over switching off of Big Ben’s historic ‘democracy lamp’ above Parliament – Telegraph.co.uk

Category: Democracy

A new row about Big Ben has broken out after it emerged that a historic lamp installed by Queen Victoria to show that Parliament is sitting will be turned off for months.

The House of Commons confirmed that the Ayrton Light at the top of the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben will be switched off for months while maintenance work is carried out.

It will be the first time in over 70 years that the lantern has not been lit when MPs or peers are sitting.

The last time it failed to shine was when German bombers were strafing London during the Second World War.

It came as John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, defied Theresa May, the Prime Minister, and refused to order a rethink of the decision to silence Big Ben for four years from this Monday to allow for the maintenance of the great bell's clocktower.

Nigel Evans MP, a former deputy Speaker, asked why the lamp could not be restored...

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'Silence of the Bongs' row grows over switching off of Big Ben's historic 'democracy lamp' above Parliament - Telegraph.co.uk

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August 19th, 2017
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