Crowdfunding bid for Big Ben to bong on Brexit dashed by Commons officials – Mirror Online, Mirror.co.uk

Hopes Big Ben could bong for Brexit have been dashed by Parliament Officials.

Commons officials have reported told Number 15 they could not accept public cash to pay for the historic landmark’s repair to be suspended in order for the bell to be rung.

The Prime Minister had called for Brits to raise the £ (***************************************************, 000 needed to restore the symbolic chime to mark the moment Britain leaves the EU.

Boris Johnsonhad recently revealed he is drawing up plans to “bung a bob” for Parliament’s famous bell to ring out at (pm on January************************************

The cash would go toward restoring the clapper of the Great Bell known as Big Ben, so it could ring out on Brexit before its restoration is complete.

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Sunthe crowdfunding approach to make Big Ben bong forBrexitis against the rules.

A spokesperson told the newspaper: “There has been a suggestion that the cost of striking the Bell could be covered by donations made by the public. This would be an unprecedented approach.

“The House of Commons has well established means of voting through the spending required to allow it to function, and to preserve its constitutional position in relation to Government.

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“Any novel form of funding would need to be consistent with principles of propriety and proper oversight of public expenditure.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman told the newspaper tonight that the moment of Brexit on January (would still be celebrated.

Downing Street was working on a “package of ways” to mark the day, and would announce the plans in the near future, the spokesman said.

The make Big Ben Bong campaign launched by Tory MP Mark Francois was backed by leavers and Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage.

The GoFundMe page was run by campaign group StandUp4Brexit, and had tonight reached more than £ (********************************************************, 15 in donations.

It was unclear whether the donations would have to be returned.

The ‘bu ng a bob for Big Ben ‘Brexit campaign had attracted widespread ridicule.

SNP

MP Stewart McDonald said: “A ‘global Britain’ that has to run a crowdfunder to ring the bells of its most famous clock tower. We really are through the looking glass. “
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