Burnham revives hopes UK’s crumbling parliament will get a fix

LONDON — MPs are moving toward a vote next month on the first step in a major restoration of Britain’s crumbling Houses of Parliament, after Andy Burnham’s government lent fresh impetus to the long-stalled project. The Palace of Westminster has been in limbo for more than a decade, with MPs, peers and parliamentary authorities in disagreement over the best way to repair the 19th-century building, which is plagued by leaks, fires, asbestos and antiquated plumbing and wiring.

Successive governments have been reluctant to champion renovating parliament amid fears of a public backlash over the enormous cost. The main options on the table for refurbishment have been estimated to cost between £11 billion and £39 billion. But signs suggest Burnham, who entered Downing Street in July, is sympathetic to calls to speed up the process. Government whips have discussed holding a debate and vote on starting “preparatory works” for restoration in early December, according to three people with knowledge of the plans.

Alan Campbell, leader of the House of Commons, told MPs in October: “The longer we postpone it, the more it costs not just to keep this place functioning, but to eventually get round to doing something about it.” A government aide, granted anonymity like others in this piece to speak candidly, said: “No-one wants to be holding the baby when disaster strikes.” But they also cited day-to-day concerns short of a full-scale disaster that could render the building inoperable.

They warned of a scenario in which the Palace could be certified as unsafe to enter due to fire or structural risk. That would see MPs and peers allowed in as normal but all other personnel — including office staff, caterers and reporters — blocked at the gates. A parliamentary official briefed on internal discussions about restoration said Burnham’s senior advisers “appeared positive” about the opportunities provided by the project, which will call for specialist tradespeople and conservationists.

A December vote would allow contractors to begin a program of work, including procurement processes and building surveys, estimated to cost £3 billion over seven years. But it would not determine the final option for wholesale restoration, which will only be decided in 2030 . The eventual options will be a “full decant” where all MPs move to another building and a program known as “enhanced maintenance and improvement plus” which would allow the House of Commons to remain in the Palace throughout the works.

Two of the three people cited above said Conservative Party bosses intend to instruct their MPs to block preparatory works. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said earlier this year that restoration plans were “out of control” and had “turned into a basket case white elephant project.” Kemi Badenoch speaks at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, England on Oct. 7, 2026. | Ian Forsyth/Getty Images A report published Wednesday by the cross-party public accounts committee said: “Without action, at best the Palace will be in a process of managed decline.

At worst, a catastrophic event could occur that endangers lives and interrupts the functioning of democracy in the U.K.” Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a Tory MP who chairs the committee, told POLITICO they were “very keen that the government gets on, has this debate, has a vote, and phase one starts.” Corridors in the Palace’s sprawling basement are currently so packed with gas lines, water pipes, electrical wiring and redundant infrastructure that workers can only walk down them in single file.

It has a misting system to mitigate the risk of fire, and extra safety measures have been introduced in recent years to guard against falling masonry that has come loose on several occasions . The costs of ad hoc maintenance and repairs reached £1.56 million a week in 2025, up from £1.45 million a week in 2023 . The Cabinet Office declined to comment. A U.K. parliament spokesperson said: “Work is already happening across the parliamentary estate to ensure the ongoing safety of those working here and visiting,” adding: “The [restoration] proposals are expected to be debated by all Members of both Houses to decide a way forward.”