FORMER Tory minister Andrea Leadsom says the UK Parliament could burn down “any day” as she urged MPs to “get on” with Westminster’s renovation.
Speaking to the BBC, she said that Parliament could suffer a similar fate as Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral back in 2019.
Repair works to Westminster could cost between £7 billion and £13bn but could reportedly be less if MPs and peers left the building while the works were undertaken.
However, a number of politicians were against the idea of relocating as plans to move to Richmond House in Central London were vetoed.
While speaking to Radio 4’s Week in Westminster programme, Leadsom said that the UK Parliament was in serious danger of going up in flames and cited a potential fire in 2017 that was only averted because of a 24/7 fire patrol.
"That is so 'there but for the grace of God'," she said.
"It could burn down today, tomorrow, any day and we've got to make that decision and get on with it."
The UK Parliament was built between 1837 and 1860 and now requires significant works to be undertaken, including asbestos removal, new wiring, fire safety improvements and conservation work.
And on top of the fire risk, warnings have been made that a flood of sewage could damage the building due to a sewage ejector system installed in 1888 still being in use.
Back in 2019, MPs voted to implement a sponsor body tasked with restoring the building.
The sponsor body subsequently published a report that put the basic cost of essential repairs between £7bn and £13bn, with a timeframe of between 19 and 28 years to complete. However, that timeframe was reduced to 12 to 20 years if the building was fully vacated, which would have also reduced costs by 40%.
While voicing concern about the project’s cost and timeframe, the commissions for the Commons and Lords voted to get rid of the sponsor body to implement a “new approach”.
Politics Professor Matt Flinders of Sheffield University has previously suggested the change of direction was due to a "massive blame game" because MPs and peers felt the decision was an unpopular one.
