BIG BEN Renamed 'Elizabeth Tower' today!

[None of the above]

Isnt it the bell inside the tower that is Big Ben, not the tower, or clockface.....although popular culture has considered the whole thing to be Big Ben......i thought the tower was just called Westminster tower....

So whats the prob if they name the tower after her, we'll still hear Big Ben every hour, as always.

tourists will no doubt still call it Big Ben.....

Just another interesting fact for the tour guides on the open top bus route.

Come on, even in Wales have you ever heard anyone call it 'the westminster clock tower'?

It's known as Big Ben. Yes after the bell itself.

But they could frankly call it anything they want and it would still be totally meaningless. Everyone is still going to call it 'big ben'.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

So they've changed the name that noone remembered of a clock tower to something that noone will remember.

HURRAH. What's the bet they spent millions of pounds in discussions and "pilot papers" and "testing the waters" before they did so?

[Mr Right Wing]

What a load of sillyness!

So! How many people are going to call this Iconic London landmark by it's 'official name' now, after it's always been known by it's knickname 'Big Ben'?

I think we should rename the Statue of Liberty to the Statue of Elizabeth lol.

[regeneratia]

I don't really hate her. Nor do I practice hate on a large level. I just think she is a witch. And really, you cannot deny that. She is one.

How is prince Phillip? Is he well?

Is that because you hate people who tirelessly serve their country for 60 years (more than that when you consider the time she spent in the Armed Forces during World War II) and who still do so when most people of their age are retired?

[hetrodoxly]

What a foul, disgusting individual you really are.

I couldn't agree more.

[hetrodoxly]

I don't really hate her. Nor do I practice hate on a large level. I just think she is a witch. And really, you cannot deny that. She is one.

How is prince Phillip? Is he well?

Why is she a witch?

[hetrodoxly]

It will always be called "Big Ben" it's only the tower that supports it that's changed it's name.

[Space Commander Travis]

Oh please, for the amount of money she gets, she doesn't serve her country...

No, sorry, I must disagree there. the amount of engagements she has (well, less now than there was), is quite extraordinary. Do you realise that none of the royal family have any free time at all; I mean time when they're able to dfo what ordinary 'hard working' people take for granted. they're not able to just pop to the movies or to the supermarket or anything, they're literally always on duty. I mean, by all means people should feel free to not have to respect somebody just because of the position they hold, but I do wish that people would have their facts correct instead of just saying the same old "all the money they get", and "never done a day's work in their lives".

.

[Space Commander Travis]

I don't really hate her. Nor do I practice hate on a large level. I just think she is a witch. And really, you cannot deny that. She is one.

So that's not just gratuitously rude?

[TheLastLazyGun]

Oh please, for the amount of money she gets,

And what money, oh Enlightened One, does Her Majesty get? I'm sure you're an expert.

Break it down for me in great detail.

she doesn't serve her country... Her country serves her.

She's served her country as its Head of State - and a very popular one at that - for over sixty years when you consider the time she also spent in the British Army during WWII. She's done more for her country than you ever will. And so has her husband, who served in the Royal Navy during WWII.

That#'s like when celebrities say their life is hectic and it's very stressful, thye are living their dream and have millions or in soem cases billions.

The Queen isn't "living her dream" is she? She's in a job that was forced upon her by the laws of this land whether she wanted to do it or not. She had no choice.

It's a joke when people say stupid things like that when there is people scavenging for food out of bins

Blame the last Labour Government for that, not the Queen.

Edited September 14, 2012 by TheLastLazyGun

[TheLastLazyGun]

What's the bet they spent millions of pounds in discussions and "pilot papers" and "testing the waters" before they did so?

What's the bet they didn't?

[TheLastLazyGun]

I just think she is a witch.

A thought which has entered your tiny mind for, apparently, no meaningful or good reason.

How is prince Phillip? Is he well?

Yes, thankfully. It's always good to see an old British war hero who fought Hitler's hordes still going strong.

Edited September 14, 2012 by TheLastLazyGun

[Coffey]

The Queen isn't "living her dream" is she? She's in a job that was forced upon her by the laws of this land whether she wanted to do it or not. She had no choice.

Hahahahaha, she can hand the title to someone else if she wants. That is a fact. So no it's not forced. It is expected, but she can choose not to.

And what money, oh Enlightened One, does Her Majesty get? I'm sure you're an expert.

Break it down for me in great detail.

She receives about £40 MILLION annually and has a private income of around 11-15 million pounds

All her estate, homes etc etc all estimate at around 40 BILLION.

And she has a private account, but I forget how much is in it. I think that's a hell of a lot of money though.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Coffey

[Order66]

It could be worse. In the US they would have sold the name rights. It would become the Citibank Tower or something.

[King Fluffs]

I'ma still call it Big Ben.

[Order66]

I'ma still call it Big Ben.

I call it: The Tower Formerly Known as Ben

[Space Commander Travis]

Hahahahaha, she can hand the title to someone else if she wants. That is a fact. So no it's not forced. It is expected, but she can choose not to.

Do you have any conception of how important the idea of duty is to her , and to the Royal family traditionally? it'd be inconceivable to imagine that she'd ever 'hahahahaha, hand the title on to someone if she wants' .

What would be your preferred system, then? Once the Royals were out on their ears, what would you prefer to see? A President? A Socialist People's Republic?

[Coffey]

Do you have any conception of how important the idea of duty is to her , and to the Royal family traditionally? it'd be inconceivable to imagine that she'd ever 'hahahahaha, hand the title on to someone if she wants' .

What would be your preferred system, then? Once the Royals were out on their ears, what would you prefer to see? A President? A Socialist People's Republic?

We already have a prime minister and government. So I you take away the royal family........ nothing changes. Everything they do with their money can be done with the money they get originally from taxes etc. We'd be better off.

I also hate that "tradition" rubbish. That's like saying we should keep beheading people because it's "tradition". The whole thing jut makes me feel sick.

[smurf0852]

This is a good idea. The Queen is an amazing and, of course, very popular woman who has served her country really well for over 60 years.

Something similar to this has happened before. The Palace of Westminster features three towers: Elizabeth Tower (formerly the Clock Tower - Big Ben is the name of the largest bell within it), Central Tower and Victoria Tower. Victoria Tower is the tallest and largest of the three and when it was completed in 1858 it was the tallest secular building in the world. Victoria Tower was originally called King's Tower in honour of the then reigning monarch King William IV (of whom David Cameron is a direct descendant) but it was eventually renamed Victoria Tower in honour of King William IV's niece, Queen Victoria, after her Diamond Jubilee of 1896.

how exactly has she served her country well ? has she done a lot for germany or something .the attitude we british have towards the royal family is mental they are not super human we could have had elizabeth stolen at birth and replaced her with any random female child and she would have been able to wave and look down her nose at the peasents just as well as elizabeth has.it is simply her privelaged upbringing that has made her what she is nothing else.

we would have been better off naming it after the person who built it at least they deserve some recognition instead of some taxpayer funded german immigrant who knows about as much of what goes on in this country as an amazonian tribesman.

[Coffey]

how exactly has she served her country well ? has she done a lot for germany or something .the attitude we british have towards the royal family is mental they are not super human we could have had elizabeth stolen at birth and replaced her with any random female child and she would have been able to wave and look down her nose at the peasents just as well as elizabeth has.it is simply her privelaged upbringing that has made her what she is nothing else.

we would have been better off naming it after the person who built it at least they deserve some recognition instead of some taxpayer funded german immigrant who knows about as much of what goes on in this country as an amazonian tribesman.

Well said.

[None of the above]

how exactly has she served her country well ? has she done a lot for germany or something .the attitude we british have towards the royal family is mental they are not super human we could have had elizabeth stolen at birth and replaced her with any random female child and she would have been able to wave and look down her nose at the peasents just as well as elizabeth has.it is simply her privelaged upbringing that has made her what she is nothing else.

we would have been better off naming it after the person who built it at least they deserve some recognition instead of some taxpayer funded german immigrant who knows about as much of what goes on in this country as an amazonian tribesman.

Personally I'm a republican and the reverance that some hold for these people is somewhat mystifying for me.

There are so many great British people worthy of reverance, so many true heroes, so much to be celebrated in our history, so many hugely worthy achievements....

To attempt to remane an Icon of British culture like 'Big Ben' after ER2 simply because of her long service is for me just another example of how badly British attitues are skewed.

[TheLastLazyGun]

smurf0852, on 15 September 2012 - 11:02 PM, said:

how exactly has she served her country well ?

She's served her country for over sixty years, both defending it and being its Head of State, and has done so impeccably. She has served her country well and will continuing to do so until the day she dies.

has she doe a lot for germany or something.

I don't see what Germany has got to do with it. Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair.

the attitde we british have towards the royal family is mental

No, it isn't. The vast majority of the British recognise how much the Royals have done for their country and their people whether we are at peace or at war. It's only a few Lefties, who view decades of hardwork and dedication for your country as something to be frowned upon, who sneer at them. Lefty heroes are, after all, the lazy and the useless - dole dossers who don't want to work and jobless Afghan asylum seekers who get £1 million six bedroomed homes paid for by the British taxpayer. As a result, the Left hates anyone who actually works tirelessly for their country for decades and well into their old age.

they are not super human

Nobody said they are.

we could have had elizabeth stolen at birth and replaced her with any random female child

Thankfully, we didn't. Elizabeth II is the greatest monarch we've ever had.

she would have been able to wave and look down her nose at the peasents just as well as elizabeth has.

The Queen doesn't look down her noses at "the peasants". That's just your imagination.

She's probably helped more charities than you ever will in a lifetime.

it is simply her privelaged upbringing that has made her what she is nothing else.

Quit your Lefty politics of envy. This is the 21st Century

we would have been better off naming it after the person who built it at least they deserve some recognition

I would say that a person who has served her country as its Head of State for 60 years, and for a few years in the British Army defending her country, deserves more recognition than someone who built a building.

tead of some taxpayer funded german immigrant who knows about as much of what goes on in this country as an amazonian tribesman.

The Queen isn't a German immigrant. She was born in Mayfair.

And to say that the Queen, this country's HEAD OF STATE, knows little of what goes on here is, to be honest, ludicrous.

Every single morning the Queen scans every British newspaper. She reads up to 300 letters of correspondence from the public and tells members of her staff how she would like them to be answered.

Every day of every year, wherever she is, The Queen receives from government ministers, and from her representatives in the Commonwealth and foreign countries, information in the form of policy papers, Cabinet documents, telegrams, letters and other State papers. These are sent up to her by the Private Secretaries in the famous 'red boxes'. All of these papers have to be read and, where necessary, approved and signed. A series of official meetings or 'audiences' will often follow. The Queen will see a number of important people. These include overseas ambassadors and high commissioners, newly appointed British ambassadors, senior members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces on their appointment and retirement, and English bishops and judges on their appointment.

In the afternoon, the Queen often goes out on public engagements. The Queen carries out around 430 engagements (including audiences) a year, to meet people, open events and buildings, unveil plaques and make speeches. Such engagements can include visits to schools, hospitals, factories, military units, art galleries, sheltered accommodation for elderly people, hostels for the homeless, local community schemes in inner city areas, and other British and Commonwealth organisations.

The Queen's working day does not end in the afternoon. Early evening may see a meeting with the Prime Minister. The Queen has a weekly meeting alone with the Prime Minister, when they are both in London (in addition to other meetings throughout the year). This usually takes place on Wednesdays at 6.30 pm. No written record is made of such meetings; neither The Queen nor the Prime Minister talk about what is discussed between them, as communications between The Queen and the Prime Minister always remains confidential. At about 7.30 pm a report of the day's parliamentary proceedings, written by one of the Government's Whips, arrives. The Queen always reads this the same evening. On some evenings, The Queen may attend a film première, a variety of concert performances in aid of a charitable cause, or a reception linked to organisations of which she is Patron. The Queen also regularly hosts official receptions at Buckingham Palace (usually with other members of the Royal Family), such as those for the Diplomatic Corps and The Queen's Award for Industry. Through her public and private work, The Queen is well-briefed and well-known. She has met many more people from all walks of life both in this country and overseas than her predecessors. This takes time and effort. Often, one of the last lights on in the Palace at night is The Queen finishing her 'red box' of official papers.

http://www.royal.gov...ay/Evening.aspx

So the Queen is extremely well-informed of what's going on in the 16 countries of which she is Head of State. So you failed miserably in your argument.

Edited September 16, 2012 by TheLastLazyGun

[TheLastLazyGun]

Personally I'm a republican and the reverance that some hold for these people is somewhat mystifying for me.

There are so many great British people worthy of reverance, so many true heroes, so much to be celebrated in our history, so many hugely worthy achievements....

To attempt to remane an Icon of British culture like 'Big Ben' after ER2 simply because of her long service is for me just another example of how badly British attitues are skewed.

If anyone's worthy of having a tower on our Parliament building it is the greatest Head of State this country's ever had.

If the Americans can name a Space Center in Florida and an airport in New York after a man who was Head of State of their country for just one-thirtieth of the time that Elizabeth II has been our Head of State then I can't see what the problem is in naming a tower on the Palace of Westminster after Elizabeth II.

Edited September 16, 2012 by TheLastLazyGun

[smurf0852]

She's served her country for over sixty years, both defending it and being its Head of State, and has done so impeccably. She has served her country well and will continuing to do so until the day she dies.

I don't see what Germany has got to do with it. Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair.

No, it isn't. The vast majority of the British recognise how much the Royals have done for their country and their people whether we are at peace or at war. It's only a few Lefties, who view decades of hardwork and dedication for your country as something to be frowned upon, who sneer at them. Lefty heroes are, after all, the lazy and the useless - dole dossers who don't want to work and jobless Afghan asylum seekers who get £1 million six bedroomed homes paid for by the British taxpayer. As a result, the Left hates anyone who actually works tirelessly for their country for decades and well into their old age.

Nobody said they are.

Thankfully, we didn't. Elizabeth II is the greatest monarch we've ever had.

The Queen doesn't look down her noses at "the peasants". That's just your imagination.

She's probably helped more charities than you ever will in a lifetime.

Quit your Lefty politics of envy. This is the 21st Century

I would say that a person who has served her country as its Head of State for 60 years, and for a few years in the British Army defending her country, deserves more recognition than someone who built a building.

The Queen isn't a German immigrant. She was born in Mayfair.

And to say that the Queen, this country's HEAD OF STATE, knows little of what goes on here is, to be honest, ludicrous.

Every single morning the Queen scans every British newspaper. She reads up to 300 letters of correspondence from the public and tells members of her staff how she would like them to be answered.

Every day of every year, wherever she is, The Queen receives from government ministers, and from her representatives in the Commonwealth and foreign countries, information in the form of policy papers, Cabinet documents, telegrams, letters and other State papers. These are sent up to her by the Private Secretaries in the famous 'red boxes'. All of these papers have to be read and, where necessary, approved and signed. A series of official meetings or 'audiences' will often follow. The Queen will see a number of important people. These include overseas ambassadors and high commissioners, newly appointed British ambassadors, senior members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces on their appointment and retirement, and English bishops and judges on their appointment.

In the afternoon, the Queen often goes out on public engagements. The Queen carries out around 430 engagements (including audiences) a year, to meet people, open events and buildings, unveil plaques and make speeches. Such engagements can include visits to schools, hospitals, factories, military units, art galleries, sheltered accommodation for elderly people, hostels for the homeless, local community schemes in inner city areas, and other British and Commonwealth organisations.

The Queen's working day does not end in the afternoon. Early evening may see a meeting with the Prime Minister. The Queen has a weekly meeting alone with the Prime Minister, when they are both in London (in addition to other meetings throughout the year). This usually takes place on Wednesdays at 6.30 pm. No written record is made of such meetings; neither The Queen nor the Prime Minister talk about what is discussed between them, as communications between The Queen and the Prime Minister always remains confidential. At about 7.30 pm a report of the day's parliamentary proceedings, written by one of the Government's Whips, arrives. The Queen always reads this the same evening. On some evenings, The Queen may attend a film première, a variety of concert performances in aid of a charitable cause, or a reception linked to organisations of which she is Patron. The Queen also regularly hosts official receptions at Buckingham Palace (usually with other members of the Royal Family), such as those for the Diplomatic Corps and The Queen's Award for Industry. Through her public and private work, The Queen is well-briefed and well-known. She has met many more people from all walks of life both in this country and overseas than her predecessors. This takes time and effort. Often, one of the last lights on in the Palace at night is The Queen finishing her 'red box' of official papers.

http://www.royal.gov...ay/Evening.aspx

So the Queen is extremely well-informed of what's going on in the 16 countries of which she is Head of State. So you failed miserably in your argument.

i wasnt arguing i was expressing a point of view.you however seem to be of the flag waving lets have a brandy and chortle at the poor people living in slums type that i find particulary odious.

as for she has served her country for 60 years so she deserves taxpayers money and buildings named after her there were plenty of people who served this country bravely to there own physical and mental detriment who have died living in cardboard boxes, so why should queenie be so well looked after for eating cakes with toffs and waving at people.

you right wing doom heads would all like to be back to whipping poor people for sport and taking peasents wives virginity for the pleasure of living on your land ,as for your dail mail esk rant about left wing heroes mine is Gerrard Winstanley who is yours Oswald mosley

perhaps.

[TheLastLazyGun]

you however seem to be of the flag waving lets have a brandy and chortle at the poor people living in slums type that i find particulary odious.

Why? Just because I support the monarchy?

If that's the case then the vast majority of the British people must shares the same views as me.

as for she has served her country for 60 years so she deserves taxpayers money and buildings named after

The Queen doesn't live off taxpayers' money.

And if you have a problem with us naming a building after our Head of State then when are you going to start protesting over the fact that the Americans have named a Space Center and an airport after one of their Heads of State? When are you going to start a protest over the fact that the French named an airport after President Charles de Gaulle?

there were plenty of people who served this country bravely to there own physical and mental detriment who have died living in cardboard boxes

So? What do you want us to do? Name a part of our Parliament Building after Dave Jones, some unknown bloke who died living on the street?

so why should queenie be so well looked after for eating cakes with toffs and waving at people.

Because she's been our Head of State for sixty years. Naming buildings after Heads of State is hardly unusual in this world. It happens everywhere.

you right wing doom heads would all like to be back to whipping poor people for sport and taking peasents wives virginity for the pleasure of living on your land

I support the whipping and then the hanging of child killers and cop killers.

as for your dail mail esk rant about left wing heroes mine is Gerrard Winstanley who is yours Oswald mosley

perhaps.

Is that the same Oswald Mosley who was a member of your beloved Labour Party?

Edited September 16, 2012 by TheLastLazyGun