Houses of Parliament

Granada studios has a mock up of the House of Commons so they can all meet there instead. Will do them good to see that there is life north of Watford.

The Lords can meet in one of the many churches in London.

nanaej Yes he did. That's why I think he should be punished by being compelled to live there.

But I thought PoW helped to 'design' Poundbury.. he should put his money where his mouth is!

Re HP..it is a symbolic building but I like the idea of centralising the seat of Parliament by moving it to the middle /North of England.

Poundbury looks like the outer circle of hell to me JO4 so I definitely think the PoW and Mrs Cornwall should have to move there.

Point taken about Poundbury absent.

We went there once for a quick look round (it was quick!). It was dead! There was no one walking around in the streets. Just a big housing estate really.

Oh my word! Philistines!!!!!!!!!! The H of P is a London icon. When I arrive back in London it is what I look for in the distance when crossing over Waterloo Bridge. Do we really want a building like the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly - and even BJ's 'home'. They won't last as long as the H of P has! It's history for goodness' sake - and the bonging of Big Ben is one of the sounds of London.

I wonder if MPs would be as happy to move to Salford as the BBC staff are?

When I lived in Dorset, Poundbury was called Siena-upon-Piddle.

I know, but there is slowly growing pressure for an English Assembly. It may happen if we ever get a proper English PM!

NfkDumpling That's about a likely as getting an English Parliament/Assembly.

I think Parliament should move, lock, stock and civil servants, to say Manchester or Birmingham or even Newcastle. It'd help cure the north south divide.

That's jolly Jings although I would point out that only some women got the vote in 1918. I think apart from Westminster Hall, three or four other bits were saved from the 1834 fire (St Stephen's cloisters?). But most of the present palace dates from 1840–1870.

nightowl It looks quite nice in Monet's paintings too but close up and without mist it's horrid.

Only in pictures – but he wished it on people and the region, so why shouldn't he have to live there?

I must confess that I love the Palace of Westminster, warts and all. I have very fond memories of seeing it from across the river when nearing the end of the London Moonwalk a few years ago. It was around 5am on a beautiful June morning, the sun was rising and the whole building was shining golden across the Thames. It was uplifting at a much needed time

Don't wish that on them! Have you seen Poundbury?

Buck House is another place that isn't fit for purpose. I can't say I blame the PoW for not wanting to live in it. I think he and Mrs Wales should move to Poundbury or whatever it is called.

I've found this fantastic little video all about it. potted history

I don't believe it was ever burnt completely to the ground. Bet there's some old bits.

I read somewhere that Prince Charles has indicated that when/if he accedes he'll abandon Buck House and it can become the "official residence" where visiting heads of state can be put up and official knees up arranged without him and C actually having to live over the shop. I think the idea of a hotel/ museum for the Palace of Westminster might get some support but it wouldn't save any money.

JO4 The present Palace of Westminster doesn't have that much history (less than 200 years most of it) and I think the architecture is horrible. Maybe it will just sink into the Thames. I never suggested something like the gherkin as a replacement.

I'm sorry. I would have to say "don't be silly".

absent you are just trying to shock aren't you?

Could you really advocate doing away with so much history? ( to replace it with something like the gherkin?)

[horror]

Is that ironic Lilygran?

Museum? On democracy?

Lilygran I am not keen on mediaeval gothic, let alone its Victorian reincarnation. I think Pugin should have been exposed on a mountainside or drowned at birth. But chacun a son goût. There's no chance of the palace being blown up (official demolition, not Guy Fawkes style) as it's listed. However, a new purpose-built home for parliament, preferably without the confrontational benches and with adequate office space, would surely cost less. Then the old one could be turned into a hotel or something.

Re the broken traffic lights thing - here in Oz drivers just revert to the 'give way right' rule at an uncontrolled junction.

I'd just leave the MPs in the old building. As it crumbles around them they might get some insight into how their policies affect folks' lives.