Friday, 26 Apr 2024

Boris Johnson reveals special light show and countdown clock to celebrate Brexit Day

A special light show will illuminate buildings around Whitehall and UK flags will be flown in Parliament Square. The events will also include a clock, counting down to the moment Brexit happens, being projected outside Number 10. Mr Johnson made the plans “in response to public calls”.

Announcing the celebrations, the Government said: “January 31st is a significant moment in our history as the United Kingdom leaves the EU and regains its independence.

“The government intends to use this as a moment to heal divisions, reunite communities and look forward to the country that we want to build over the next decade.”

The delayed commemorative Brexit coin will also come into circulation.

Mr Johnson will be one of the first people to receive one of the newly-minted 50p coins, after the first batch had to be melted down when Brexit was postponed in October.

A special meeting of the Cabinet will take place on January 31 somewhere in the north of England to emphasise the Government’s pledge to “level up” the country.

The cost of the event is unknown, but the package was announced to try to calm uproar from Brexit supporters over the fiasco with Big Ben.

Mr Johnson was criticised after his proposal of crowdfunding the £500,000 bill for restoring Big Ben to working order fell through.

Supporters raised more than £200,000 in just three days, but the plan was halted by parliamentary authorities who said they would not accept public raised money.

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It is expected broadcasters will be asked to replicate the sound of Big Ben ringing out to make up for the absence of the real thing.

Despite the new plans, Brexiteers continued to rage over Big Ben remaining silent.

Tory MP Mark Francois revealed he donated £1,000 to the cause.

He said: “We are now not far short of £220,000 and, by the end of the day, we probably won’t be a million miles away from having raised half the total in two days.”

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Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith insisted Big Ben rings on all the “big occasions”.

He said: “It sounded out the end of the war in Europe, it sounded out the end of the war in Japan, and when we joined the EU.

“And as we leave – arguably the biggest decision we have made since the end of the war – then the bell, I think, should sound for that.”

A rival Brexit celebration party will be thrown in Parliament Square by Nigel Farage.

The Brexit Party leader invited Mr Johnson to join his event.

Mr Farage was told he will not be allowed to set off fireworks from the grounds.

He faced resistance from St James’s Park officials because of the impact the noise could have on wildlife.

A Royal Parks spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph: “We do not allow firework displays in St James’s Park because of the impact on nesting birds and other wildlife”.

Mr Farage fumed: “We have just met obstacles at every moment of this”.

The European Parliament confirmed the UK flag flying above the building in Strasbourg will be lowered after Britain’s exit and sent to the House of European History.

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