MPs have spent nearly £100,000 on a temporary bonging mechanism for Big Ben, which was used just ten times during renovations of the Elizabeth Tower. The cost, approximately £10,000 per use, covered commissioning, out-of-hours attendance, setup, and testing.
The mechanism was commissioned in 2017 by the House of Commons Commission, despite a campaign for Big Ben to 'bong for Brexit'. It was used for New Year's Eve and remembrance commemorations, with additional testing in advance of each event.
Senior Conservative MP Sir Charles Walker confirmed the cost in a written parliamentary question, stating that the mechanism was coordinated around planned works to minimise impact on the project. The temporary mechanism will be retained as a contingency for future use.
A House of Commons spokesperson said the mechanism was specially designed to fit the tower's constraints and produce the authentic sound. They argued that using it on pre-planned occasions offered better value than ad-hoc striking at short notice.
