Big Ben to f ly the f lag for England
BIG BEN is to be repainted to feature the cross of St George – to the fury of Scottish and Welsh nationalists.
the restoration will see six shields bearing the red and white English flag above each dial and blue numbers on the clock face, in a return to the original Victorian colour scheme. the crosses are currently black and gold.
the announcement from the parliamentary authorities came just hours before England took on Croatia in the World Cup semi-final. But the move provoked a furious backlash from nationalist MPs from Scotland and Wales.
Simon thomas, a Plaid Cymru member of the Welsh assembly wrote on twitter: ‘Well that’s certainly telling the rest of us where to go.’
And SNP MP Pete Wishart said: ‘this is a welcome boost for Scottish independence as Westminster prepares to become an England-only parliament. People will, however, be forgiven for thinking that transition began long ago – as Scotland continues to be sidelined and ignored on the biggest issues facing our country.’ the announcement from the House of Commons Commission said the blackened dials of the clock will revert to blue numbers with gold frames filled with white glass.
Other areas of black paint around the outside will also be gilded. the changes to Big Ben – properly called the Elizabeth tower – are part of a £61million renovation.
It is believed that the current colour scheme was adopted in the early 20th century after the Victorian building, designed by Charles Barry, had been blackened by decades of air pollution. the decision follows analysis of samples of the original paintwork.
Lib Dem MP tom Brake, spokesman for the commission, said the new colour scheme ‘is restoring it back to what Charles Barry had in mind’. He said the Scots, the Welsh and Northern Irish were represented by shields bearing a thistle, leek, and shamrock that can be found above the clock on the tower.