MICHAEL Gove has told peers to up sticks from Westminster while the House of Lords is refurbished, with Scotland mooted as a potential destination.
The Tory minister has previously suggested the unelected chamber could be relocated to Glasgow.
In a letter to Lord Speaker McFall of Alcluith, seen by the BBC and the Sunday Times, Gove claims “cities and towns across the United Kingdom would be pleased to extend their hospitality to peers”.
He adds that having “carefully reviewed the proposed arrangements”, he “will not support the use of the QEII Centre as an alternative location”.
The Queen Elizabeth II Centre conference and exhibition space is just a few minutes’ walk from the Palace of Westminster in London.
In the letter, which was also sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, Gove suggested a move elsewhere in England, Scotland or Wales.
WATCH: Scots give their verdict on Michael Gove's plan to send the Lords to Glasgow
He is reported to have written: “As the minister responsible for levelling up, it is clear to me that the House of Lords moving elsewhere, even for a temporary period, would be widely welcomed.
“I have carefully reviewed the proposed arrangements and… I will not support the use of the QEII Centre as an alternative location.
“I propose to establish dedicated liaison points for you in my department to support you in identifying a suitable location for the House of Lords in the North, Midlands, South West, Scotland or Wales. I would, of course, be happy to meet you to discuss this.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities declined to comment Earlier this year, a report showed that restoring the Palace of Westminster without finding a new home for MPs could take up to 76 years, with a repairs bill reaching £22 billion.
The project’s sponsor body and delivery authority said the cheapest option would involve a “full decant” of the palace for between 12 and 20 years, with the work costing in the region of £7bn to £13bn.
In this scenario, with MPs elsewhere for much of the time, the report estimated the restoration would take between 19 and 28 years.
