Majority of MPs back renaming of Big Ben Clock Tower as Elizabeth Tower for Jubilee

The tower housing Big Ben will be renamed ‘The Elizabeth Tower’ in honour of the Queen’s six decades on the throne under plans backed tomorrow by the majority of MPs.



David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are among senior figures from all parties who have backed the proposal for Parliament to bestow the extraordinary tribute on the Monarch.



As the nation gears up for a weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Parliamentary authorities will now meet to discuss renaming Westminster’s Clock Tower after Her Majesty.



Honour: There are plans to rename the tower housing Big Ben to 'The Elizabeth Tower' to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

A total of 331 MPs have now signed up to a campaign to mirror a tribute bestowed on Queen Victoria, the present Queen's great-great grandmother and the only other monarch in history to mark a Diamond Jubilee.



The square tower at the other end of the Palace of Westminster, previously known as The King's Tower, was renamed The Victoria Tower to mark her long reign.



Other MPs backing the idea include the Tories’ William Hague, Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith, Labour’s David Blunkett, Jack Straw and Ed Balls, and the Lib Dems’ Danny Alexander, David Laws and Chris Huhne.

The House of Commons Commission, Parliament’s governing body, will meet by the end of this month and, given the degree of cross-party support, is expected to agree that the Clock Tower should be renamed The Elizabeth Tower.



The 316-foot tower has become one of the most well-known symbols of London and the United Kingdom around the world. MPs accept it will continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben, the name of the famous bell it houses, but say the tower itself should carry the present Queen's name in perpetuity.



Support: A total of 331 MPs have now signed up to the campaign

Both the Cabinet Office and Buckingham Palace are understood to be supporting the proposal.



Tobias Ellwood, a Parliamentary private secretary at the Foreign Office who first proposed the idea, said he was delighted that it had attracted the support of more than half of all MPs – a key threshold identified by Parliamentary authorities.



Mr Ellwood said: ‘I am extremely pleased that colleagues from across the House, both front and back bench, have supported this initiative.



‘Commemorating an iconic landmark as famous as Parliament is indeed a truly exceptional tribute and I am grateful that the majority of MPs believe the Queen deserves such an outstanding accolade.’



‘Of all the forty-one monarchs who have reigned over England and the United Kingdom since William the Conqueror, only Her Majesty and Queen Victoria have reached this Diamond Jubilee land mark.



‘The scale of celebration about to be witnessed – not just in official ceremonies and the pageantry on the Thames but in the hundreds of street parties across the country – reflects the appreciation and reverence she has earned following an extraordinary life of constant and tireless service to the nation.



‘She has travelled more widely than any other head of state in history, and is arguably the most respected and admired public figure in the world.



‘It therefore seems entirely appropriate for Parliament to pay tribute to Her Majesty with a similar honour, and in symmetry, to that bestowed upon Queen Victoria, by dedicating part of the iconic Parliamentary estate in her name.’

Prime Minister David Cameron said: ‘It is great news that so many MPs from across the House are backing what would be a fitting tribute to the Queen. I hope it will now move ahead.’



Labour leader Ed Miliband said: ‘It’s fantastic news that the majority of MPs, including the Labour front bench, are supporting the idea of the Clock Tower being renamed in honour of Her Majesty the Queen.



‘Queen Elizabeth has dedicated herself tirelessly and constantly to the people of Britain and the entire Commonwealth. Parliament has agreed that this is a fitting tribute to her life of service and I hope it can be confirmed as soon as possible.’



Unity: All three main political parties have lent their support to the proposals

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ‘I’m pleased to see that hundreds of MPs are getting behind the excellent idea of renaming the tower in honour of The Queen. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is an occasion that the whole country is keen to celebrate, and Members of Parliament are no exception. I hope the House applies [to Buckingham Palace] to name this historic tower after Her Majesty.’



Leader of the Commons Sir George Young said: ‘This is an excellent campaign, and with the support of over half of MPs from right across the political spectrum it’s obvious that this is gaining real momentum.



‘I will be writing to the Speaker and the members of the Commission to inform them of the progress that has been made and request that a decision is formally considered later this month.



‘There can be no more fitting way for Parliament to commemorate Her Majesty’s total dedication to her nation’s service over 60 extraordinary years.’



Parliament’s Victoria Tower, at 323 feet, is slightly taller than the more famous Clock Tower which houses Big Ben.



Designed, like the rest of the Palace, by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, it was originally named ‘The King's Tower’ after being built following a devastating fire in 1834, during the reign of King William IV.



At the base of the tower is the Sovereign’s Entrance, so-named because the Monarch uses it to enter the Palace for the State Opening of Parliament.



Big Ben is the nickname for the Palace’s other great tower, but is properly the name of the 13.5 tonne bell it houses.

It was completed in 1858, and is called The Clock Tower. Standing at 316 feet, the Gothic Revival tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.



The clock dials are set in an iron frame 23 feet across, with a Latin inscription at the base of each reading ‘DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM’. It means ‘Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First’.



Formal confirmation of support from over half of all MPs for the Clock Tower to be renamed ‘The Elizabeth Tower' has now been given the House of Commons Commission.

