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Big Ben Bong.

(134 Posts)
ginny Tue 14-Jan-20 11:14:51

A scheme has been suggested to raise money by donations for Big Ben to ring out as we leave the EU.
For goodness sake ! If people want to mark the occasion surely there must be better ways for donations to be spent.

Paperbackwriter Wed 15-Jan-20 12:43:10

sarahhellenwhitney Local church bells? You think those should be rung for political reasons? Really? Absolutely not. Though on that, of course, bells have traditionally been rung to warn of disaster as well as in celebration!

Paperbackwriter Wed 15-Jan-20 12:40:10

The only people who will actually here the bongs would be in London - a city which voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU. Frankly, leaving is not something either to celebrate or to crow about. To ring bells would smack of rather grubby triumphalism and we can do without that.

jura2 Wed 15-Jan-20 12:24:18

sandelf ''No, no, no - and I'm all for leaving. But do it politely! - Just imagine what the EU press will make of it. Smile and leave...''

they already are- Brexit is not done, not even started- we then need to negotiate and it will be very difficult. The EU and the whole world is watching - and they all think we are bonging mad, jingoistic and triumphalistic and in a very unpleasant way. Especially when Farage goes on about bonging for victory.

jura2 Wed 15-Jan-20 12:20:47

Theodbird- French or Italian?

Oopsminty Wed 15-Jan-20 12:19:26

Why should it cost anything to ring Big Ben? Surely it goes off every hour anyway.Well it used to anyway.

Ongoing renovations, Cradftycat. It's been silent for a couple of years now.

Theoddbird Wed 15-Jan-20 12:15:26

I think there is now talk of an electronic replacement for the sound. I will toast with a bottle of something bubbly.

Craftycat Wed 15-Jan-20 12:08:24

Why should it cost anything to ring Big Ben? Surely it goes off every hour anyway.Well it used to anyway.

icanhandthemback Wed 15-Jan-20 12:07:41

It isn't what anyone else would make of it but just the incredible waste of money. Surely there are better ways.
magshard20, if we want the council to clean up the streets, we have to pay more. As our local councillor is often out litter picking, I am more than happy to do my bit. In days of yore, people often swept the pavement and kept their pavement grass at bay. It seems to me that if I wanted to pay higher council tax, I'd rather like the money to go towards helping the vulnerable, not clearing up behind the feckless.

magshard20 Wed 15-Jan-20 12:00:32

Think that the government and local councils are having a laugh, wanting us to do their work for them. My local council said yesterday that if we (the council tax payers) can pick one piece of rubbish it will help with the cleaning up of the areas....if the said council had not got rid of road sweepers etc the problem would not exist. Do any others feel that council's and ultimately government wanting us to pay for ridiculous bell ringing and cleaning up of our streets, is an early April's fool ?

sandelf Wed 15-Jan-20 11:56:11

Be British - Keep Calm and Carry On.

sandelf Wed 15-Jan-20 11:54:59

No, no, no - and I'm all for leaving. But do it politely! - Just imagine what the EU press will make of it. Smile and leave...

librarylady Wed 15-Jan-20 11:54:34

Not much time left to raise that sort of amount, surely?
But think it is fine to try and do it by public donation, then it is up to people what they do. Presuming most who voted leave would donate, that amount would be raised in no time.

Margs Wed 15-Jan-20 11:50:53

And Boris can dress up as John Bull accompanied by Anne Widdecombe dressed as Brittannia.

Suits them.

newnanny Wed 15-Jan-20 11:35:43

I think Big Ben should mark such a momentous event. It does not cost £500,000 according to story this morning this figure is invented to try to prohibit parliament agreeing to it.

GillT57 Wed 15-Jan-20 11:35:22

Divisive, inflammatory and provocative, especially in London which was a vastly remain vote.

Oopsminty Wed 15-Jan-20 11:30:21

Bad losers because we can think of better ways to spend a few hundred thousand pounds?

But it won't be your money

We can look at many things in our world where the money could be better spent

If people want to donate they will. If they don't, they won't.

EthelJ Wed 15-Jan-20 11:29:55

It's a ridiculous idea. Many more better things to spend that sort of money on. And it's hardly going to bring the country together again will it? It makes me very angry and I do t get angry often.

Minerva Wed 15-Jan-20 11:25:17

Bad losers because we can think of better ways to spend a few hundred thousand pounds?

Nanniejc1 Wed 15-Jan-20 11:15:08

Obviously not many Brexiteers on here today........all remainers I take it ,no jubilation just bad losers!

Nanniejc1 Wed 15-Jan-20 11:12:18

If people want to raise money for Big Ben to chime it’s up to them but only the people who live in or around London will hear it ......as long as we leave I really don’t care.

Lupin Wed 15-Jan-20 11:10:24

To do such a thing is international bad manners. What a clumsy and divisive proposal. Typical Boris - both legs in it up to his knees. Hardly diplomatic in the face of the negotiations still to come.

Cycorax Wed 15-Jan-20 11:08:36

Bells are rung to welcome people to worship, not for political reasons. Of course they are rung to commemorate certain days, but that is at the discretion of the incumbent of the church.
I think silence and a stiff drink is the best way to mark leaving the EU.

Dianehillbilly1957 Wed 15-Jan-20 11:05:23

Waste of money, surely there's more needy causes out there in this country that would gladly put this kind of money to good use!

Sweetcheek Wed 15-Jan-20 11:03:59

Bongers idea ?

Nanniejc1 Wed 15-Jan-20 11:03:31

I think we will celebrate anyway & hopefully church bells will ring can’t wait for Brexit......it’s been over 3 years & we should celebrate & to all the people who are anti Brexit ......tough!!!Boris won with a massive victory & I believe he will be a great PM.