Boris’s proposal to move Parliament to York during restorations is rejected

Parliament will not move to York while repairs are carried out to its London HQ.

Boris Johnson proposed that MPs and peers should move lock, stock and barrel to York while the Houses of Parliament were restored.

But his suggestion has been rejected – and instead they will move… across the road.

Lords will move to the QEII conference centre opposite Parliament, while MPs will relocate to the Palace of Westminster’s northern estate as workers restore the crumbling building.

The review published today (Thursday) said the relocation would be minimised through a “phased approach” but that fully vacating the palace will last for “likely years rather than months”.

The Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority confirmed the plans to relocate locally after Boris’s suggested move to York.

That suggestion did not prove popular with those who use the palace, with 19% of respondents expressing clear views that moving the Lords far from the Commons “was not practical or acceptable”.

Just 6% suggested one or both houses could move outside of London.

The body will continue to look at plans that could see access enabled to the palace from the Thames, perhaps from a dry dock erected alongside the building, to speed up work.

The restoration team will continue to develop a fully costed plan, but a price tag of around £4 billion has previously been estimated.