Foreigners are banned from visiting Big Ben.

[Germanicus]

FOREIGNERS have been banned from Big Ben over fears of an al-Qaeda "spectacular", it emerged last night. Police fear terrorists could pose as tourists in a bid to blow up the London landmark. Plans to vet all foreign visitors hoping to tour the world-famous 315ft tower proved too complex and costly.
So House of Commons security have barred ANYONE not born in the UK - while British citizens must first apply in writing to their MP. Michael McCann, the Keeper of the Great Clock, confirmed the policy change. He said: "We used to get a lot of foreign tourists, but you have to be a British citizen now. It got too complicated with the security checks.
"We don't do public tours, but you can write to your MP with a reason for wanting to see it and they can arrange a tour for you."
UK passport-holders will face security checks to keep out home-grown terrorists like 7/7 ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan. A Commons spokesman said: "The House does not comment in detail on security matters."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...urist-ban.html

[Loki]

It's prettier from the outside anyway.

[Osweo]

You need to have a British passport and write to your MP? Some Jihadist could just go and visit the MP first, get handed a passport off him (they love handing them out, apparently, and would probably relish the chance to cut the middle man for a change), and then pop up the stairs to blow the clock up, all in the one visit.

[Wölfin]

You need to have a British passport and write to your MP? Some Jihadist could just go and visit the MP first, get handed a passport off him (they love handing them out, apparently, and would probably relish the chance to cut the middle man for a change), and then pop up the stairs to blow the clock up, all in the one visit.

And be born in the UK but then all those second gens..

[Foxy]

In my personal opinion this reaction is ok if they do this for security reasons. But as it limitates also the movements of British people and doesn't let people really interested to visit it to do, including also the descendents of British people born outside, I think it shows that British are not free neither in their home to move. That should make us reflect.

[Grumpy Cat]

Ummm... so they've banned all foreigners? I don't think there are many Canadians in al Qaeda.

[Germanicus]

In my personal opinion this reaction is ok if they do this for security reasons. But as it limitates also the movements of British people and doesn't let people really interested to visit it to do, including also the descendents of British people born outside, I think it shows that British are not free neither in their home to move. That should make us reflect.

Indeed, it is sad times we live in. Realistically any public monument is there for a target, they have the time and obviously resources to engage in any spiteful vandalism they care to target, and with a stiff upper lip the British passport owners will put up with these asians in our country doing it to them?

[Peasant]

First Coronation Street, now Big Ben? What next?!??!?!