Big Ben Bong.

None of the population within hearing distance of Big Ben will be celebrating so big waste of money ! If they want something to put on the news I’m sure Boris flashing a Union Jack and waving a few sparklers up North will do fine !

I juts voted Yes in an on line poll I would like Big Ben to bong- that's put the cate among the pigeons!

You think it’s a disaster that our £££ has got stronger already ?

Totally ridiculous. It will ring the hour anyway, so why bother?

Surely it’s up to the people donating. If they wanted to donate to another cause then they would. It’s called freedom to do what you like with your money. At least that’s one thing the left can’t take from us ?

Oh please sarahellenwhitney, NO! That would be worse as it brings politics into religion.

The CofE and the State are already intertwined but the churches should be the last places to want to cement division.This can’t be done “by decree” from parliament anyway, as apparently church law states that only a priest (of a church) can decide when to ring the bells.
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has also said it does not endorse "bell ringing for political reasons" as a principle. what a relief!

Could they not use a recording of Big Ben?

I'm with you 100%, MOnica.

Awful waste of money, even if it is donated by the public especially it entrenches divisions over Brexit.
And please don’t get me started on the second draft of the 50p piece or the Blue Passports...grrr

Rubbing salt into the wound that is Brexit.
I despair for this country.

Totally agree with you

Definite waste of money. If communities want to celebrate I'm sure church bells would be much cheaper!

If people wish to donate to this, it's up to them

Why not your local church bells? .Big Ben is ok if you are living within the area where it can be heard.

The Last Leg just happens to be on that night , Adam realised that they come of air at 11pm UK time but it will be 12midnight Brussels time .

Only if it tolls to mourn the death of the future in favour of a mythical past.

People who are happy about Brexit can have their own celebrations. It's a terrible waste of public money to have a public celebration of something which has created such an angry and bitter division in the country.

Ridiculous idea and an obscene waste of money, whatever its source.

Urmstongran does have a point, but it won’t help “bring the country together” will it?
Things like this are just an additional annoyance for some.

Obviously if people want to pay this, I suppose it’s up to them, but it seems divisive to me.

I just despair of this country ! This epitomises how far removed Boris Johnson is from real life. There are homeless people dying on our streets, cancer patients fighting to get the drugs they need because of NHS cutbacks and he wants to spend half a million to hear a clock strike (which 99% of the UK won’t hear anyway) words fail me I am incensed by this obscenity ??

Absolute waste of money, when the country is on its knees. That money should not come out of money that should be spent on care of elderly and homeless, NHS, schools, etc. We have got to stop wasting money on frivolities. If ministers want it then let them pay for it out of their own overly inflated salaries.

If it’s not taxpayers money I don’t see the problem. For those who are anti Brexit remember there are many who are pro. The election proved it! Vote for me (Boris) and ‘Get Brexit Done’. Within stonking majority in Parliament I think that’s the proof of the pudding.

And where do we stop? What about those taxpayers not keen on the royals. Are they vociferous about gun salutes/Trooping of the Colour etc? That’s taxpayers money.

Sometimes we have to agree to disagree!

Why should we celebrate this disaster?

Absolutely NO! Raise the money by all means but then give the money to a worthy cause like Cancer Research. Honestly, £500000 to hear a bloomin clock chime 10 times. Never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life.

Absolute waste considering the majority of the UK doesn't hear the clock. Of course is there going to be fireworks etc. and the whole performance televised.