Rats and Other Disasters in the Palace of Westminster

“If we’re not careful, the United Kingdom is going to have its Notre Dame moment…. that Parliament is going to burn to the ground.”

Ian Paisley, Jnr. Member of Parliament, United Kingdom

“It’s very politically sensitive because no politician wants to be the one who tells the public that a very large amount of taxpayers’ money has to be spent on MPs’ place of work.”

Rowan Moore, Architect Critic for The Guardian

In this episode, Rats and Other Disasters in the Palace of Westminster these two experts delve into the danger of this historic place.

Urgent intervention is needed to save the Palace of Westminster which is not only on its last legs but is potentially hazardous in various ways. This is not fresh news sadly but our two distinguished experts will certainly offer you some fresh perspective.

Rowan Moore, Architecture Critic, The Guardian & Observer

Rowan Moore is architecture critic of the Observer and was named Critic of the Year at the UK press awards 2014. He is the author of Slow Burn City and Why We Build. Follow him on twitter: @rowanmoore

“Obviously, the longer it takes to do the work, the greater the risk, you simply multiply the risk per year by the number of years it takes. And also all the work done on a project so far says the more slowly you do it, the more it costs.”

Ian Paisley, Jnr. MP, Westminster Spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports

Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Refurbishment and Restoration
Ian has represented North Antrim since 1996 when he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue. In 1998 he was then elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim.

As a member of the Assembly Ian served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and also as a Junior Minister in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister from 2007 until 2008. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board from 2001 until 2007.

“You have to have a crew of four man walk that building constantly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and they spot fires, fire hazards and put them out and we’re working in that building.”

After Dr Paisley stepped down as the Member of Parliament for North Antrim Ian contested the General Election of 2010 and comfortably retained the seat for the Democratic Unionist Party. He was again re-elected at the General Election in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Ian is currently the DUP spokesperson for Communities, Local Government and Culture, Media and Sports. He is also a member on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

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