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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/19/house-of-lords-may-move-out-of-london-to-reconnect-with-public
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| House of Lords may move out of London to 'reconnect' with public | House of Lords may move out of London to 'reconnect' with public |
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| Tory plan a symbol of Boris Johnson’s aim to ‘level up’ rest of UK with capital | Tory plan a symbol of Boris Johnson’s aim to ‘level up’ rest of UK with capital |
| The government is considering moving the House of Lords outside London – potentially to York – as one of a range of options to “reconnect” politics with the public, the Conservative party chairman, James Cleverly, has confirmed. | The government is considering moving the House of Lords outside London – potentially to York – as one of a range of options to “reconnect” politics with the public, the Conservative party chairman, James Cleverly, has confirmed. |
| Asked about the plan, which was reported in the Sunday Times, Cleverly said: “It’s one of a range of things that we are looking into. | Asked about the plan, which was reported in the Sunday Times, Cleverly said: “It’s one of a range of things that we are looking into. |
| “It’s about demonstrating to people that we are going to do things differently. The Labour party lost millions of voters because they failed to listen.” | “It’s about demonstrating to people that we are going to do things differently. The Labour party lost millions of voters because they failed to listen.” |
| The crumbling Palace of Westminster is due to be vacated for several years from 2025, under plans for restoring the historic buildings by the Thames. | The crumbling Palace of Westminster is due to be vacated for several years from 2025, under plans for restoring the historic buildings by the Thames. |
| Shifting the Lords to northern England during that period, and potentially permanently, would be a symbol of Boris Johnson’s determination to “level up” the rest of the UK with the capital. The decision is expected to be made as part of a constitutional review, to be launched in the coming weeks. | Shifting the Lords to northern England during that period, and potentially permanently, would be a symbol of Boris Johnson’s determination to “level up” the rest of the UK with the capital. The decision is expected to be made as part of a constitutional review, to be launched in the coming weeks. |
| The Conservatives have already said they will open an additional campaign headquarters outside London. | The Conservatives have already said they will open an additional campaign headquarters outside London. |
| Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: “When the prime minister stood up the day after the general election and said this is going to be a people’s government, he meant it. And that meant connecting people with government and politics. | |
| “Because the referendum in 2016 wasn’t just about our relationship with the EU, it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics as a whole. So we’re looking at a whole range of ways of connecting people, in the kind of places where we won representation for the first time in decades.” | “Because the referendum in 2016 wasn’t just about our relationship with the EU, it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics as a whole. So we’re looking at a whole range of ways of connecting people, in the kind of places where we won representation for the first time in decades.” |
| Cleverly was also asked about the controversy over whether Big Ben would “bong” to mark Brexit – at 11pm (midnight, Brussels time) on 31 January – but sought to play it down. | |
| After House of Commons authorities said it would cost £500,000 to sound the bell, which has been silenced during renovations to the Elizabeth Tower in which it hangs, Johnson said his government was “working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong”. | |
| It subsequently emerged there was no such plan – and it is unclear what will happen to the money raised by crowdfunders for the project. Instead, the government will project a countdown clock on to the wall of 10 Downing Street on the evening of 31 January. | It subsequently emerged there was no such plan – and it is unclear what will happen to the money raised by crowdfunders for the project. Instead, the government will project a countdown clock on to the wall of 10 Downing Street on the evening of 31 January. |
| Cleverly said: “The PM made a light-hearted statement about Big Ben. Trust me, this is not the most pressing issue in government. There’s a lot of interest, and it’s fun, and it’s good media knockabout.” | Cleverly said: “The PM made a light-hearted statement about Big Ben. Trust me, this is not the most pressing issue in government. There’s a lot of interest, and it’s fun, and it’s good media knockabout.” |