MailOnline
It WILL be the Elizabeth Tower: MPs support renaming the tower housing Big Ben after the Queen
Leaders of the three main parties throw their weight behind proposal
Parliament's governing body is expected to agree to give London landmark its new name by the end of the month
By James Chapman
PUBLISHED: 16:28 EST, 1 June 2012 | UPDATED: 06:53 EST, 2 June 2012
The tower housing Big Ben will be renamed in honour of the Queen under plans supported by the majority of MPs.
David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are among senior figures from all parties who have backed the proposal to call it the Elizabeth Tower. A total of 331 MPs have now signed up to the campaign.
It mirrors a tribute bestowed on Queen Victoria, the only other monarch in British history to have a Diamond Jubilee.
Tribute: The tower (left) looms over Westminster opposite the Victoria Tower as soldiers stage a dress rehearsal for the Jubilee celebrations
Tribute: The tower (left) looms over Westminster opposite the Victoria Tower as soldiers stage a dress rehearsal for the Jubilee celebrations
The tower at the other end of the Palace of Westminster, originally known as the King’s Tower, was renamed the Victoria Tower in her honour.
Other MPs backing the idea include Tories William Hague, Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith; Labour’s David Blunkett, Jack Straw and Ed Balls; and Lib Dems Danny Alexander, David Laws and Chris Huhne.
The House of Commons Commission, Parliament’s governing body, will meet by the end of this month and, given the degree of cross-party support, is expected to agree that the 316ft Clock Tower should be renamed. MPs accept it will continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben, the name of the bell it houses, but say the tower itself should carry the present Queen’s name in perpetuity.
Tobias Ellwood, a parliamentary private secretary at the Foreign Office who proposed the idea, said he was delighted that it had attracted the support of more than half of all MPs – a key threshold identified by the authorities.
Mr Ellwood said: ‘Commemorating an iconic landmark as famous as Parliament is indeed a truly exceptional tribute and I am grateful that the majority of MPs believe the Queen deserves such an outstanding accolade.’
David Cameron said: ‘It is great news that so many MPs from across the House are backing what would be a fitting tribute to the Queen.’
Subject to commission approval, the proposal will be formally presented to the Palace. A renaming ceremony would then be expected, which the Queen would be invited to attend.
Leaders of the three main parties throw their weight behind proposal
Parliament's governing body is expected to agree to give London landmark its new name by the end of the month
By James Chapman
PUBLISHED: 16:28 EST, 1 June 2012 | UPDATED: 06:53 EST, 2 June 2012
The tower housing Big Ben will be renamed in honour of the Queen under plans supported by the majority of MPs.
David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are among senior figures from all parties who have backed the proposal to call it the Elizabeth Tower. A total of 331 MPs have now signed up to the campaign.
It mirrors a tribute bestowed on Queen Victoria, the only other monarch in British history to have a Diamond Jubilee.
Tribute: The tower (left) looms over Westminster opposite the Victoria Tower as soldiers stage a dress rehearsal for the Jubilee celebrations
Tribute: The tower (left) looms over Westminster opposite the Victoria Tower as soldiers stage a dress rehearsal for the Jubilee celebrations
The tower at the other end of the Palace of Westminster, originally known as the King’s Tower, was renamed the Victoria Tower in her honour.
Other MPs backing the idea include Tories William Hague, Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith; Labour’s David Blunkett, Jack Straw and Ed Balls; and Lib Dems Danny Alexander, David Laws and Chris Huhne.
The House of Commons Commission, Parliament’s governing body, will meet by the end of this month and, given the degree of cross-party support, is expected to agree that the 316ft Clock Tower should be renamed. MPs accept it will continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben, the name of the bell it houses, but say the tower itself should carry the present Queen’s name in perpetuity.
Tobias Ellwood, a parliamentary private secretary at the Foreign Office who proposed the idea, said he was delighted that it had attracted the support of more than half of all MPs – a key threshold identified by the authorities.
Mr Ellwood said: ‘Commemorating an iconic landmark as famous as Parliament is indeed a truly exceptional tribute and I am grateful that the majority of MPs believe the Queen deserves such an outstanding accolade.’
David Cameron said: ‘It is great news that so many MPs from across the House are backing what would be a fitting tribute to the Queen.’
Subject to commission approval, the proposal will be formally presented to the Palace. A renaming ceremony would then be expected, which the Queen would be invited to attend.
