Parliament: Rebuild Or Move Out?

Published by Stephen Milward in Politics · Thursday 05 Feb 2026 · 2 minutes
Tags: Parliament, Rebuild, Move, Out, Government, Politics, Infrastructure, Decision, Making, Public, Opinion, Civic, Engagement, National, Identity

Parliament. The Palace of Westminster. Whatever you call it, it has had a place in the nation's identity for centuries. We can remember historic events that have taken place there and certainly the London cityscape is hard to imagine with the distinctive shape of the buildings.

However, it's falling to bits, both inside and outside. The question is whether we should rebuild it or move our elected representatives to a purpose built, state of the art facility elsewhere?

The cost of repairing the buildings is astronomic. It could cost £40bn and take 61 years, according to a BBC News article (i). Is that the best way of spending that amount of money? Of course, the traditionalists will say yes. They won't want to change parliament in any way. Spruce it up and all will be well.

But isn't this the opportunity to break free of the constraints made by having a parliament in such a building, and in London? Why not have parliament in another city, or two cities like the E.U. does (Strasbourg and Brussels)?

It's time to reconnect democracy to the people and one part of that is to make the lawmakers work closer to all the people under it's jurisdiction. Take this opportunity to do so.

BBC News Website 05 February 2026: Parliament revamp could cost £40bn and take 61 years