Dissolution of Parliament
The dissolution of Parliament took place on Thursday 30 May 2024. All business in the House of Commons and House of Lords has come to an end. There are currently no MPs and every seat in the Commons is vacant until after the general election on 4 July 2024.
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Big Ben
Big Ben is probably the world's most famous clock. That iconic silhouette is instantly recognisable and is one of the most Instagrammed landmarks on the planet.
Six monarchs and 41 prime ministers have come and gone since the bells first struck their now familiar music across Westminster.
Here we tell Big Ben's historic story in words and images. It's a rich tale of drama, intrigue and politics. Discover why it was built, the engineers and clockmakers who created this horological masterpiece and the incredible efforts being made to restore Big Ben to its former glory, even exceed it.