.The big dEE .

15.1.25

LONDON: Unelected peers questioned the integrity of the palace of westminster on Tuesday, but the state of democracy was not on the agenda.

Debating national heritage and historic buildings, crossbench peer the earl of devon took aim at the refurbishment of parliament. “Given the continued disaster that is the restoration and renewal programme, do the Government know how long it will be before the palace of westminster is added to the register?”

Costs of the works, which are yet to begin, could rise above 20 billion pounds.

“My noble friend the Leader of the House has noted the issues with the heating. I will not comment on the heating, but it is quite warm in the chamber today, so that at least is positive,” labour peer and whip baroness Twycross replied.

“The restoration and renewal programme is a matter for parliament … clearly there has been lots of discussion about the issues facing what is an invaluable building for parliamentarians but which is also of historic and cultural value to the country,” Twycross added, wisely focusing on parliament’s historic and cultural value rather than its fairly ties to democracy.