Plan to charge for Big Ben tours sparks ding-dong with MPs

Fireworks explode over the Houses of Parliament (Getty Images)

Tourists are to be charged to climb the Big Ben clock tower for this first time in its 150-year history.

Each visitor will have to pay £15 from July to climb the 334 spiral steps in the national landmark which plays a key role in New Year's Eve celebrations. The charge is part of plans to save £40m by 2015.

Tory MP Robert Halfon condemned the "outrageous decision". He wrote on Twitter: "This is OUR Parliament. UK public already pay for upkeep via taxes."

A Commons spokesman stressed the fee would cover costs of clock tower tours, adding: "We are not going to charge people to come into Parliament."