BORIS BACKS BONGS
Brits urged to back Boris Johnson’s call to raise £500,000 so that Big Ben can bong to mark Brexit
BRITS were last night urged to get behind Boris Johnson’s call for £500,000 so that Big Ben can bong to mark Brexit.
The PM suggested the public could crowdfund the huge sum — and Brexiteers were quick to pledge their support.
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Pro-Brexit billionaire and philanthropist Lord Ashcroft said he would underwrite the fund by £100,000 if it falls short.
Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage told The Sun: “Big Ben must bong. If the Government aren’t prepared to pay the cost, then the people will.”
The 160-year-old
Westminster clock is currently silent during a four- year-long renovation. But Mr Johnson wants its chimes to mark the historic moment at 11pm on January 31 (midnight Central European time) when we leave the EU.
House of Commons chiefs yesterday turned down 60 pro-Brexit MPs’ pleas to reconnect the clock’s bells for Brexit — on grounds of spiralling cost.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the final bill could end up being four times the original estimate, £120,000, because it would set back ongoing work for weeks.
'RESTORE THE CLAPPER'
But Brexiteers were left furious, claiming the move has already been authorised twice in the last two months to see the clock bong for Remembrance Sunday as well as New Year’s Eve.
Commons chiefs insisted they would need to give contractors two working weeks to reconnect and then test the bells — meaning Brexiteers have until next Monday morning to raise the necessary cash.
The PM initially pledged to lead the fundraising charge, during an interview with BBC Breakfast.
He said: “We’re working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong, because everybody knows Big Ben is being refurbished, they seemed to have taken the clapper away.
“So we need to restore the clapper in order to bong Big Ben on Brexit night.”
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Later, the PM’s official spokesman said: “If the public wants Big Ben to bong and the money is raised then that is great. We will make sure that — whatever happens in regard to Big Ben’s bongs — January 31 is properly marked.”
Leading Tory Eurosceptic Mark Francois yesterday pledged £1,000 of his money towards the funding.
Calling for others to contribute, Mr Francois said: “I’m sure the BBC can help. Perhaps the staff of the Today Programme could have a cake sale”.
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