Parliament must keep grip on restoration costs, says watchdog

MPs and peers told to come up with a clear plan after previous business case was rejected

MPs and peers in charge of parliament's restoration have been told by Whitehall's spending watchdog that they must ensure that costs do not slip amid deepening concerns about public finances in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The National Audit Office (NAO) has called on the group tasked with the Palace of Westminster's multibillion-pound overhaul to take a firm grip on the process. The budget for Big Ben's construction works alone rose by 176%, auditors said.