Boris Johnson wants Brits to crowdfund 500,000 pounds to bong Big Ben on Brexit night

[Denzil_DC]

The Prime Minister admitted it'd cost a small fortune to ring out the bell at 11pm during restoration work - so he has a plan for the public to 'bung a bob' to pay for it instead

...
Scores of Tory MPs have been calling for the bell to toll to celebrate the moment Britain legally becomes the first nation to leave the EU.

But so far no plan has been revealed because the Elizabeth Tower, which holds the Great Bell known as Big Ben, is being restored.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the House of Commons Commission on Monday. But the cost was estimated at £500,000 - so the idea was ditched.
...
Yet in an interview with BBC Breakfast, Boris Johnson said the Government was working up a plan to fund the costs.
...
Commons authorities said for the Bell to ring on 31 January, the temporary striking mechanism used for Remembrance Sunday and New Year’s Eve would need to be reattached and tested to ensure the timing is correct.

A temporary floor of the belfry would also need to be installed as "extensive work is currently taking place in this area." The total costs of this would be £120,000.

But it would in turn push back the works by two to four weeks, and with delays costing £100,000 a week, the total cost would come to between £320,000 and £500,000.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-wants-brits-crowdfund-21276444

Follow-up article:

Boris' bonkers 'bung a bob for Big Ben Brexit bongs' bid bombs

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to crowdfund £500,000 cost of ringing the country's most famous bell has unravelled less than five hours after he suggested it

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-bonkers-bung-bob-big-21278133

Meanwhile ...

Link to tweet

Christopher Hope📝 ✔

@christopherhope

Big Ben Brexit bongs latest:

EXCLUSIVE
Brexit Party founders @Nigel_Farage and @TiceRichard are planning to play Big Ben's bongs through loud speakers on Parliament Square on Brexit night, I am told. 1/4

More at our live blog: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/14/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-labour-leadership-liam-fox/ …

Christopher Hope📝 ✔
@christopherhope

Richard Tice, the chairman of Leave Means Leave, says he will arrange for the bongs to sound through his "excellent speaker system" to the estimated 15,000 Brexiteers who have applied for tickets for their Brexit night celebration. 2/4 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/14/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-labour-leadership-liam-fox/ …

Link to tweet

Christopher Hope📝 ✔
@christopherhope
· 8h
Replying to @christopherhope

He tells The Telegraph: "We find it disappointing that Big Ben will not be allowed to ring out on this momentous night, despite recently chiming for New Year's Eve.

"However, we still hope common sense can prevail... 3/4 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/14/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-labour-leadership-liam-fox/ …

Christopher Hope📝 ✔
@christopherhope

Richard Tice: "If not, we will provide the sound of the famous bell tolling from our excellent speaker system. This will, of course, be watched and listened to around the world."
The Greater London Assembly is yet to give permission for the party. 4/4 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/14/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-labour-leadership-liam-fox/ …

[lapfog_1]

1. I wonder if they will celebrate in 2 or 3 years time?

[EarlG]

2. Gotta love that headine

Boris' bonkers 'bung a bob for Big Ben Brexit bongs' bid bombs

[Midnightwalk]

3. Death knell for the UK

[Denzil_DC]

4. It's going well so far

Link to tweet

Mikey Smith ✔
@mikeysmith

There are currently 22 individual crowdfunder pages on GoFundMe to raise funds to ring Big Ben on Jan 31.

Between them, 11 people have donated £485.

Mikey Smith ✔
@mikeysmith

More people have (so far) set up crowdfunders than have offered to donate money, if that tells you anything.

[T_i_B]

5. If Brexshitters want to cough up their own money for this...

... Then I won't begrudge them their gesture.

Of course some people might say that this idea is just a tax on fools but I couldn't possibly comment.

[mwooldri]

6. Boris should work on legalising cannabis.

Then Big Ben (or little Ben, or anyone for that matter) can have a bong and it won't cost £500k.

Plus there's lots of other bell towers, other ways to mark the divorce. Let the work on the Elizabeth clock tower go as planned.