MPs deserve pretty much all the criticism here, BTW. It's a combination of "not a good look"-ism coupled with the fact that the most sensible option by far (a full decant) would mean they couldn't peacock around quite as much.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
Also (forgive me I know I go on about this a lot) that they’ve been told for at least a decade that the longer they leave it, the more it will cost - and they continue to leave it… and leave it… and leave it…
There’s a weird brand of MP (and Lord for that matter) that seem to think actual building is magic and they do voting anywhere else. I wonder how many of these people also happen to have some of the nicer offices on the estate and don’t want to move.
It's obviously bad and counterproductive, but I do understand the mindset of someone who's wanted to be an MP for years, might get 4-8 years in post, and wants to spend them in the 'real' Parliament.
I still don't understand why they went to all the time and expense of buying Richmond House from the DHSC to use as a temporary Commons chamber and then...just didn't bother. The Canadians did the below as part of their own renovations and it's worked fine.
From my research: Jacob Rees Mogg took over as Commons Leader and he was fundamentally opposed to Richmond House following a spectacular fail during the Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster
They have concluded that the politics of agreeing to works is too difficult as one side or the other will exploit it so they will go with it burning down. I think they have come to terms with that inevitability as the only way out of the politics.
That theory only worked if a) disaster wouldn’t be politicised (it will), and b) the ever-contradictory public pillory whichever party is in power at the time.
Because Parliament and its MPs can be incredibly wedded to the institution and building. Having worked there for a short period of time, the level of entitlement is incredible.
Bet part of the problem was Johnson's Government was so busy screwing up Brexit then Covid response they didn't have time for anything else. Odd that Johnson loved doomed vanity projects, like the Garden Bridge and Thames Estuary Airport, yet didn't push the restoration of the HoP (fortunately).
They seem genuinely terrified if they leave they'll never be allowed back. Some MPs genuinely do seem to think that the moment they're out the door then HoC will be for ceremonial use only
I was so hopeful this government would see sense about parliamentary restoration, particularly with so many of the old Tory backbenchers clutching their pearls about leaving parliament gone, but that was a bit of a foolish hope.
Comments
Huge if true
.. Especially the Lords.