Big Ben won’t bong as private money can’t be used on public assets – as Johnson should have known
Dismantled: It’s going to be a bit tricky for Big Ben to ring when it has been dismantled for repair. This shot is old but it demonstrates the problem.
Boris Johnson has wasted everyone’s time with an appeal for funding to make Big Ben ring on Brexit day that could never be accepted.
As prime minister, he should have known that private money cannot be accepted for use on public assets.
And maybe he did.
After all, what better way is there to stir up antipathy for the rules and regulations that hinder him from turning the UK into a dictatorship than by making it seem the bureaucrats are anti-Brexit?
He knows his claim that he could “get Brexit done” is what won the general election for him.
And another “divide and rule” tactic might distract Brexiters from the fact that he is cheating them left, right and centre.
Commons authorities said money raised by the public to have Big Ben bong on 31 January cannot be accepted because of rules on private donations. Despite that, a campaign led by Tory MP Mark Francois to get the clock chiming has now raised more than £160,000.
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice told the BBC: “I blame the bureaucrats. They’ve now said even if we raise the money, actually they won’t let us do it because they’re worried about spending privately-raised money on a public sector asset.”
Source: Boris Johnson news live: Latest Brexit updates as government embroiled in row over EU citizens
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would cost next to nothing to have the recorded chimes played over the air raid warning speakers
I grew up during the immediate post-WWII period (50′-60s) and air raid warning alarms were by powerful mains-powered sirens, not loudspeakers. Those sirens were subsequently used to warn of other general emergencies, for instance involving accidental toxic gas releases in chemical works etc. Most of the original WWII sirens have long gone while during any contemporary emergency alarm other means are used to send warnings and info to appropriate personnel.
For use as general alarms or for replaying Pinocchio Johnson’s precious Brexit bongs you would need multi-kilowatt speaker and amp stacks like those used in music festivals. Can you imagine one of those having to be installed in every town and city centre? Imagine the sound pressure on the ears for nearby residents? For a single event lasting a for a couple of minutes?
no different than all other heritage sites they tale lottery money what is that if not public funded the whole of Westminster is public funded so where is the clock any different they can take from the public for their own benefit to line their own pocket ..
The whole of Westminster is indeed publicly-funded – it’s the private funding that is the problem and I’m sure there’s a very good reason. Perhaps they think if they accept money from individuals, those individuals will want a say in what’s done with it?
Celebrating the destruction of living standards of the ordinary folk, the ones that work, pay their taxes, struggle to survive on an everyday basis, is shameful, rubbing it your face has no comparison, as long as the tax payer pays for it it’s OK. If they want their dongs dung they should forfeit a days pay, mind you, they would then claim it on expenses, win win for them, it will get better, honestly.