British Commons speaker expresses 'frustration' with Parliament restoration delays: report

People tour the southern bank of the River Thames near the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament, in London, Britain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

LONDON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- British House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle expressed "frustration" with the delays in making multi-billion-pound repairs to the Palace of Westminster, the BBC reported Saturday.

The current process for approving essential renovations amounted to "putting ourselves in handcuffs," and more time was spent on "doing surveys" than getting repairs under way, Hoyle was quoted as saying.

The Commons public accounts committee warned this week it was "crunch time" for the ailing building's restoration that could cost up to 40 billion pounds (53 billion U.S. dollars) and take as long as 61 years, according to the report.

The committee warned that every additional year of delay costs taxpayers 420 million pounds (561 million U.S. dollars). Its chairman also raised concerns that the Palace could be left vulnerable to a devastating fire similar to the one that broke out at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019.

Hoyle said his "biggest frustration" with the restoration of the Victorian building was "we're not getting on with the work."

"It's very frustrating when the Act of Parliament prevents you carrying out the major repairs that you need to. Talk about putting ourselves in handcuffs," said Hoyle.

Hoyle also questioned why a fire-suppression mist system had still not been installed throughout the building, although he had called for it for years.

People view and photograph the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament, on the southern bank of the River Thames in London, Britain, Oct. 18, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2026 shows the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament, in London, Britain. (Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 18, 2026 shows the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament, in London, Britain. British House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle expressed "frustration" with the delays in making multi-billion-pound repairs to the Palace of Westminster, the BBC reported Saturday. (Photo: Xinhua)

This photo taken on Oct. 18, 2026 shows the silhouette of the Victoria Tower in the complex of the Palace of Westminster, which houses the British parliament, in London, Britain. (Photo: Xinhua)