MPs ring bell in towering royal tribute

The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster – known to millions by the name of the bell it houses, Big Ben – will now be known formally as the Elizabeth Tower.

Commons authorities backed the change on Monday evening after dozens of politicians added their names to a push by Tory Tobias Ellwood in favour of the switch.

“The House of Commons Commission welcomed the proposal to rename the Clock Tower Elizabeth Tower in recognition of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and will arrange for this decision to be implemented in an appropriate manner in due course,” a spokesman said.

The change will provide a neat symmetry as the tower at the west end is named the Victoria Tower – in honour of the only other British monarch to complete 60 years on the throne.