£61m BILL TO REPAIR BIG BEN DOUBLES
Contractor choice fuels row
THE cost of repairing Big Ben has more than doubled from £29million to £61million, it was revealed yesterday.
And MPs’ fury at the rocketing costs grew when it emerged Sir Robert McAlpine – a firm responsible for widepread blacklisting of building workers – had been given the contract.
They accused the Commons authorities of trying to sneak out the bad news over the famous bell, which fell silent in August in preparation for repairs which are scheduled to take four years.
SNP MP Chris Stephens said: “Late on a Friday, the Commons confirm the work has hardly started, the price has doubled and that those at the heart of the blacklisting conspiracy have the contract.
“They should not be rewarded with this work, it sends out the wrong signal.”
The £29million estimate for the repairs was given in spring last year.
In a statement, Westminster officials said: “We acknowledge there have been estimating failures and we understand the concern.
“We believe that we now have a more accurate estimate of the cost of the works and will report regularly to the committees on the progress of work.”
Paul Hamer, the boss of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, has previously said blacklisting is in the company’s past and that many workers have been compensated in an out-of-court settlement.
Blacklisting meant whistleblowers who warned about site safety went without work for years.