The next Notre Dame inferno': fears as parliament restoration is delayed
The Guardian|January 01, 2025
Parliament could become the next "Notre Dame inferno", a former Commons leader has warned, as it was confirmed new plans for the multibillion restoration would not be published until the end of next year.
Jessica Elgot
The next Notre Dame inferno': fears as parliament restoration is delayed

Peter Hain, who was a cabinet minister under Tony Blair and leader of the House 2003-05, said the restoration of the Paris cathedral showed how fast work could be done when politicians acted decisively.

He said that the confirmation by John Gardiner, the senior deputy speaker in the Lords, that the new plans would only be available later in the year were "another kick of the can further down the road."

"The mother of parliaments, a world heritage site, is ripe for becoming a Notre Dame inferno unless MPs and peers act immediately," Lord Hain told the Guardian.

"Both Houses made their decision to decant, repair and modernise many years ago. Yet the procrastination goes on despite the assessment that decanting is the cheaper option. It would save billions. President Macron acted decisively to rebuild and restore Notre Dame. We should do the same with Westminster."

The proposals will include plans for three options - a full decant of the Palace of Westminster, a continued presence in the building for some parliamentarians or for a rolling programme of enhanced maintenance and improvement.

This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 01, 2025 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView All
This is basically civil war' Palestinian Authority raid has West Bank living in fear
The Guardian

This is basically civil war' Palestinian Authority raid has West Bank living in fear

AMid the echo of gunfire and explosions, 23-year-old Mariam picked her way through puddles on the unpaved streets of the refugee camp adjacent to the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, determined to get to a university class.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Gaza UN official warns of further collapse of social order if Israel ends cooperation
The Guardian

Gaza UN official warns of further collapse of social order if Israel ends cooperation

Social order in Gaza is likely to collapse further if Israel goes ahead with its threat to end all cooperation with the UN refugee agency for Palestinians, Louise Wateridge, its senior emergency officer, has warned.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Greece mourns 'noble politician' after former PM's death aged 88
The Guardian

Greece mourns 'noble politician' after former PM's death aged 88

Tributes have been paid to Greece's former socialist prime minister Costas Simitis, who guided Greece into the eurozone and took the steps to ensure it was ready to host the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Austria's president 'to discuss coalition with leader of far right'
The Guardian

Austria's president 'to discuss coalition with leader of far right'

Austria's president has said he will meet the leader of the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ), amid speculation that the pro-Kremlin, anti-Islam party will be tasked with trying to form a government after centrist parties failed to find agreement.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Sarkozy goes on trial over alleged corruption pact with Libya's former dictator
The Guardian

Sarkozy goes on trial over alleged corruption pact with Libya's former dictator

The French former president Nicolas Sarkozy will go on trial today over the biggest political financing scandal in modern French history, in which he is alleged to have received millions of euros in illegal election campaign funding from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Taking root Volunteers help plant new forest in Somerset
The Guardian

Taking root Volunteers help plant new forest in Somerset

On a chilly day recently under stubborn grey skies, a band of green-fingered volunteers can be found in Somerset's Chew valley with spades in their hands and dirt under their fingernails.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025
The Guardian

Bill suggests paid leave for victims of domestic abuse

Domestic abuse victims would have access to paid time off work to help them stay safe under a proposed law to be tabled in parliament.

time-read
1 min  |
January 06, 2025
Prisoner who took MoJ to court says he is still isolated 20 months later
The Guardian

Prisoner who took MoJ to court says he is still isolated 20 months later

A prisoner who brought a legal challenge in April 2023 alleging he had been held in solitary confinement in England for more than two years has said he remains in isolation 20 months later because the judge has not given her decision in the case.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025
Seal Births Fall on Norfolk Coast as Herds May Be Moving South
The Guardian

Seal Births Fall on Norfolk Coast as Herds May Be Moving South

More than 3,200 grey seal pups were born along a section of the Norfolk coast this season - down 10% on last year, possibly owing to the seals finding new breeding grounds elsewhere.

time-read
1 min  |
January 06, 2025
'As though they belong' Sargent's many 'dollar princesses' united at last
The Guardian

'As though they belong' Sargent's many 'dollar princesses' united at last

Margaret \"Daisy\" Leiter was 19 when, in 1898, she was painted by the most celebrated society portraitist of the age, John Singer Sargent.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 06, 2025