Big Ben Bong.

Do you think Boris reads Gransnet? If he does, it might make him see some sense!

I wonder when we started celebrating Guy Fawkes night when Catholics also started celebrating his death by attending annual bonfires etc. Maybe in 100 years everyone will be celebrating leaving the EU regardless of which way their ancestors voted?

Oh, CliftonKate, I so agree with you! We are a laughing stock in Europe as it is, without this hare-brained idea. There are so many more worthy causes that need this money desperately. If we are collecting money, it should be spent on one of them, not on a stupid idea like this. Just what I would expect from our scatty PM! I despair!

I certainly don’t think £500,000 should be spent on this, ludicrous idea, not keen on celebrating this sad day BUT if people really want to listen to the Big Ben bongs why not stick a few speakers up there and a sound recording and get the same noisy bongs for a fraction of the cost? Thereby bringing us into the new era! ? ? ?

How ridiculous!

Give the money to the hundreds of people living in poverty.

The reason it's costing money when ringing it for New Year and other dates didn't is that the renovations were planned around those dates. The clapper has been removed, and would have to be replaced, but the belfry floor was removed on January 2nd, to allow the longest possible time before the bell needed to ring again for Armistice Day in November, and can't be replaced in a hurry without considerable expense. Also, replacing the floor now would stop the renovations that required its removal, which would also have a major cost in making the whole project overrun.

Susieq62
I don't know where you've been for the past ( I don't know how many years) but in my memory Blair brought the subject up in parliament.
Maybe read up more on our relationship with the eu.

I find it so ironic; all those who say the money for Big Ben should be going to the homeless instead . Your beloved EU has helped to cause much of the homelessness in this country with their ridiculous free movement ideals. There's a finite number of properties for housing in this country and space in which to put them and the population of the UK has gone up too many millions over the last few years too quickly.

I don't blame the people who came here supposedly seeking a better life, I blame government policies which have allowed it to happen with inadequate planning of how it was all going to work out..

"They now ring the bells, but they will soon wring their hands." Robert Walpole, 1739.

A Remainer, moi? Surely not!

What a wonderful way of uniting the country...

It's no more a waste of money than the royal wedding(s) -

Let's not worry whether the euphoria will outlast the celebratory period, again.

I shall make my contribution - and it's my money to spend in any way I like, I find it presumptious of people to virtual signal off of the back of my intended donation.

I know what I shall be doing on the big night.
Cheers!

ridiculous idea but not surprising it has been suggested by the present PM

Not church bells. They are used for celebrations (unless it’s a funeral) and for at least 48% of the voting population, this is not the case.

Hear? If you can bear it?

Apparently you can download the chimes as a ringtone on your phone.
So you can bear the bongs every time anyone phones you.

Simples

Bugger complaining, it's just boring now.

Well, I live in the North so no chance of hearing BB! What a bloody ridiculous idea and why is it so expensive? As for celebrating at midnight............won't be doing that, way past our bedtime! Us Northerners haf t' gerrup reet early tha' knows!

My self and my DH will be celebrating. We have waited a long time for this moment. Freedom here we come. I am sure the Remoaners will continue to complain but they will get over it.

Meanwhile, spare a thought for those 300 plus workers in the news today who have just lost their jobs. (Can't find the link just now to give you the details) Their area voted 'Leave' in the referendum, and that's just what their employers are doing. Leaving Britain because of Brexit. Bong.

@Nanniejcl
It seems about equal. There’s been several “ you lost so tough” type of messages so far

Typical BJ, all hot air and no sense. Those of us who think we are heading for disaster do not need our noses rub in the manure any more. Yes , you won okay we get it but let's just see what it is you have won before we start celebrating.

Thankfully we had a respite from BJ whilst he spent his Christmas in the Caribbean, at the country's expense no doubt. Now he's back with childish language and buffoonery trying to appeal to all of us idiots because he thinks we are too stupid to be spoken too as equals.
Three weeks into the New Year and we are heading for god knows what with Europe. If we haven't enough to worry about BJ's best friend picks a fight with Iran. Not to worry though because Donald Trump's nuclear plan is so wonderful Iran will see sense.
So business as usual then not much to worry about. Nothing too celebrate either certainly not worth the expense or energy of disrupting BB restoration for.

Who is actually going go and listen? If you are just listening on the radio or telly you might as well have a recording for that money £50,000 per 2 second bong.

It would be nice to have the occasion marked in some way but I’m not sure what would be best.

I do appreciate that some still believe that we all completely doomed post Brexit so I believe the best course of action is to allow them space to recover from the shock of it actually happening , despite all the odds

Meanwhile the rest of us can celebrate in whatever way we see fit.

Big Ben belongs to all of us, Leavers, Remainers and anything in between. So NO, it is not 'up to them' - because 'them' is only a small % of a still VERY divided nation- and in a Capital where Remain is the vast majority.

Well, there was me thinking it was all done and dusted because there's no scaffolding on my HP sauce bottle.

Actually, I didn't realise it would cost half a million pounds to get it going just the once!

They could play a recording - would anyone notice the difference?