MPs demand Britain's silenced #BigBen must bong for #Brexit

Since Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives won a large majority at a December election, Britain’s EU exit at the end of January has become a certainty. Lawmakers on Tuesday debated the legislation required to enact it.

A group of pro-Brexit members of parliament have put forward an amendment to that legislation, seeking to enshrine in law that Big Ben should be sounded at 23h GMT on 31 January, the moment Brexit is officially due to take place.

The 13.7-tonne bell has been largely silent since 2017 while renovation works are carried out on the Elizabeth Tower which houses it, sounding only for important events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The work on the tower, one of Britain’s most photographed buildings, is not due to be completed until 2021.

“Regardless of allegiance to Leave or Remain, this will undoubtedly be an iconic moment in this country’s history,” Conservative lawmaker Mark Francois, who put forward the amendment, wrote in an article for the ConservativeHome website.

“To mark this momentous occasion, I, along with 50 other MPs, am now campaigning to allow Big Ben to chime our freedom as well.”