MPs vote to move out of crumbling Houses of Parliament for years to allow multi-billion restoration
2 min read
MPs are to quit Parliament for at least six years to allow £3.5bn-worth of repair work to the historic building to be carried out.
In a historic move, they voted 236 to 220 in favour of a full decant to a temporary location during the restoration work.
The result is a defeat for the Government, for whom Commons leader Andrea Leadsom had urged MPs to approve further analysis of the various renovation options.
MPs had been warned that the Palace of Westminster that it could be placed on an "at risk" register for heritage sites unless urgent repair work is carried out.
But critics said that would simply kick the problem into the long grass, increasing the risk of Parliament being struck by a "catastrophic event" such as a major fire.
Former Cabinet Office minister Damian Green, who was among those who backed moving out of parliament while the work goes on, said: "We're not only asking ourselves and our staff, but also asking thousands of visitors to come to a building that is not safe.
"It is not remotely conceivable that if this was a normal building that people would be allowed to work in it."
Labour MP Chris Bryant, who also backed a full decant, said "we risk losing one of the great treasures of our country" unless the restoration began swiftly.
He also warned that further delaying a decision would increase the final repair bill.
"If we try to stay in, we will dramatically increase the cost of the work and we will be going bananas," he said.
A special joint-committee of MPs recommended in 2016 that MPs and peers all move out of the Palace of Westminster during the renovation work, but a final decision was delayed by the Government.
Last March, the Public Accounts Committee also supported a full decant, with chairman Meg Hillier saying: "The Palace of Westminster is in urgent need of repair and major work will be required to make it fit for use by Parliament and the public for generations to come.
"Delaying a decision on how that work should be carried out will only add to the costs and risks.
"In our view that decision should be to endorse a full decant. This is our best chance to keep costs down, ensure safety and complete the work on this historic building as quickly as possible."
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