Local Member of Parliament James Duddridge Signs Amendment to Keep the Debating Chamber of the House of Commons to Remain in the Palace of Westminster or Portcullis House during Palace Restoration.
In 2012 the House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee commissioned a study on the condition of the fabric of the Palace. The study indicated that, unless significant restoration work is undertaken, major, and irreversible damage may be done. The authorities of both Houses agreed that doing nothing was not an option and to commission the Independent Options Appraisal, a comprehensive, independent assessment of a range of costed, time scaled options for a major restoration and renewal of the Palace.
In September 2016 the Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster concluded that the Palace of Westminster 'faces an impending crisis which we cannot responsibly ignore' and that the lowest risk, most cost-effective and quickest option to undertake these essential works would be for all MPs, Peers, and staff, to move out of the Palace temporarily in one single phase.
On the 22nd January James alongside some of his Parliamentary candidates signed an amendment filed by Sir Edward Leigh to urge the government to keep debating Chamber of the House of Commons to Remain in the Palace of Westminster or Portcullis House during Palace Restoration.
Amendment:
DEBATE ON MOTIONS RELATING TO THE RESTORATION AND RENEWAL OF THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER
Restoration and Renewal (No. 2) – (Andrea Leadsom)
Amendment (a)
Sir Edward Leigh
At end of paragraph 11, add 'During the progress of work, the debating Chamber of the House of Commons will remain in the Palace of Westminster or Portcullis House.'.
James Said:
“Whilst I agree that the restoration project is essential and long overdue, I am not convinced that the government will keep to the agreed timescale or budget and therefore urge them to consider leaving the chamber open for debate. The House of Commons Chamber is where Members of Parliament meet to discuss legislation, to hold the Government to account and debate issues that concern them or their constituents. Far from just being symbolic the chamber has been the centre of our democracy for centuries and with that comes a unique set of rules and traditions which I fear could be lost by moving into a different space altogether.”