Sign Of The, Errr, Times

[douglas9401]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41444415

Somebody needs to be taken aside and a quiet word had.
They had a look, they quoted, not our problem. The trough is empty guys.

[Old_Geezer]

Ouch. Maybe they ought to put it out to tender again now the issues are better known.

[mikey4444]

Many millions come across the globe, just to stare at Big Ben and take photos.....I know its a bit more than we first thought but its part of history, so we should just bite the bullet and get on with it.

[douglas9401]

'A bit more'. More than double is not 'a bit more', it's taking the proverbial as usual with the public purse.
I'm sure lessons will be learned though.

[mikey4444]

I know Dougie. But I remember seeing a TV program about this, and I am not really surprised that it has turned out to be more complicated than at first thought.

[Gromit]

Sir Robert McAlpine Limited is a major financial donor to the Conservative Party. - Hansard.

[gulliver1]

Close the Trough of Lords , what a saving that would be.
Think it is called Austerity.

[Peter Pedant]

quotes arent enforceable are they ?

ka-ching! ring up another £30m !

[Peter Pedant]

// Sir Robert McAlpine Limited is a major financial donor to the Conservative Party. - Hansard.//

it is what we call 'recycling' innit ?

[Togo]

Knock it down. It is just an imperialist vanity display. In it's place build the tallest minaret in the World, with calls to prayer broadcast all over the World by the Beep Beep See, and turn the Parliament buildings into a giant Mosque with a domed roof of solid gold to rival Mecca. Be plenty of happy "tourists" then.

[mikey4444]

Togo...been on the sauce tonight ?

[Togo]

Hi Ronnie( waves) :))

[wolf63]

I am sure that, if they tried, they could fix the clock and tower much more economically. No matter how rich each of us is they are talking about a serious amount of money.

Maybe some companies would like to sponsor repairs in exchange for some advertisement boards being fixed to the tower.

[gness]

This is a joke........even with my vivid imagination I can't think what needs to be done to cost this much money.....

Mickey......You've seen the TV programme......what is going to be done that will cost sixty odd million....and how could the estimate be so out......unless Douglas is correct and the proverbial is being taken............surely not?!.... ;-)

[tonyav]

Great idea, wolf.
Maybe OXO would be interested.
http://www.oxotower.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/banner1.jpg

[Togo]

In the "style" of PP.

Nahh worth everys quid or sqad..
Make the sue a slide bummers bounce off if the dare ti slum inti eejit.
Uber Allahs in work fairying met aeriels on sight, and him a grunts working like cool ears to not make budge it.
Eeee con a me see.

[cassa333]

First thing I said when I heard they were doing work on it was... whatever number is quoted as the cost. Double it then add 50% then maybe add another 30%.

These things never come in on time and on budget let alone under. It is the way of things. I thought everyone knew that!!!

Anyway if Big Ben is such a tourist pull and a part of history and therefore worth the extra dosh then so is a lot of the other things we have that some seem determined should be abolished!!

[Spicerack]

Why do people always accuse the gov. of wasting money.
At this time of year they have staff, with scissors and bags, cutting and collecting the leaves off the trees.
Saves the cost of clearing them up after they drop off. Genius, eh.

[Spicerack]

There was a rumour that the Green Party wanted to number and paint the leaves green prior to gluing them back on in the Spring but I don't believe it. (Sounds more like something Labour would 'think' up.)

[-Talbot-]

What a waste, the money would be better spent creating the

Pakistani Spice Girls
South Sudanese Spice Girls
Ethiopian Spice Girls
Tanzanian Spice Girls
Afghani Spice Girls
Bangladeshi Spice Girls
Nigerian Spice Girls
Syrian Spice Girls
And just maybe the North Korean Spice Girls

[anotheoldgit]

Since we have been good enough to foot the bill for the refurbishment of Buck House and the fact that we have named the tower after her, perhaps the Royals could dip into their vast wealth and pay the extra?