The bells of Big Ben and the Great Clock at Westminster will remain silent on Wednesday during Baroness Thatcher's funeral as a mark of respect to the former prime minister, Commons Speaker John Bercow said today.
Mr Bercow said he had received a number of suggestions about how Parliament could pay its respects to Lady Thatcher following her death last week at the age of 87.
But he had decided the best way would be for the bells of Big Ben and the Great Clock to remain silent.
He said this would be "an appropriate means of indicating our sentiments" during the occasion.
There was a "profound dignity through silence," Mr Bercow added.
"As you know, Lady Thatcher held Parliament in very great reverence in her time both in this House and in the Lords," he said. "I am confident that Lady Thatcher's family will take it very much in that spirit and be very appreciative of what you have decided."
This will be the first time the chimes have been silenced since the funeral of former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, raising a point of order to respond to Mr Bercow's announcement, said he welcomed the decision.
