# Westminster faces Notre Dame-style fire risk, MPs warn

> A parliamentary committee warns the Palace of Westminster could suffer a catastrophic fire if refurbishment funding is not resolved, with delays costing £420 million per year.
- Title: Westminster faces Notre Dame-style fire risk, MPs warn
- Summary: A parliamentary committee warns the Palace of Westminster could suffer a catastrophic fire if refurbishment funding is not resolved, with delays costing £420…
- Keywords: palace of westminster, public accounts committee, parliament refurbishment, geoffrey clifton-brown, building safety, uk government spending, The Independent
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/westminster-notre-dame-fire-committee-b3078959.html
- Published: 2026-11-04T11:55:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: palace of westminster, public accounts committee, parliament refurbishment, geoffrey clifton-brown, building safety, uk government spending, politics, news
## Westminster fire risk warning
The Public Accounts Committee has warned that the Palace of Westminster could suffer a Notre Dame-style fire if MPs do not tackle refurbishment funding. The Grade I-listed building's repairs have been repeatedly delayed.
## Delay costs £420 million yearly
Each year of delay in deciding on refurbishments costs another £420 million, the committee warned. Parliament's weekly maintenance spending is expected to rise from £1.5 million to £2 million.
## Real risks, not notional ones
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the committee, warned of catastrophic failure risks including the Chamber being plunged into darkness during the State Opening of Parliament or flames destroying the building's roof.

> A lack of action risks, for instance, the Chamber being plunged into darkness during the State Opening of Parliament. Consider the impact of global rolling news footage of Notre Dame-like flames licking out of the building's roof, resulting in the destruction of our heritage, or worse, injuries or loss of life.
## Years of political delay
MPs first voted to leave the Palace of Westminster for extensive repairs in 2018, but continued disagreement has stalled progress. Sir Geoffrey said there had been a political allergy to dealing with refurbishment costs.
## Seven-year Phase One plan
Parliamentarians have been asked to commit to a seven-year programme of Phase One works capped at £3 billion. A vote on Phase Two is expected to take place in 2030.
## Vote approaches on restoration
Sir Geoffrey called for detailed certainty before the vote to give MPs and Peers confidence in their decisions. Questions remain about where parliamentarians would go during a full decant of the building.
## Key takeaway

MPs warn the Palace of Westminster risks a Notre Dame-style fire without urgent refurbishment funding, as annual delays cost taxpayers £420 million.