Schools in Lincolnshire will make their own decision whether they reopen in June or not

Planning applications currently being considered would involve the demolition of a Grade II listed building on the parliamentary estate that is in perfectly usable working condition and the plans have been condemned by architects, preservationists, and environmental consultants.

Sir Edward Leigh said: "The Palace of Westminster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the working home of our parliamentary democracy.

"We are obliged to restore and maintain it it for future generations.

"Unfortunately the current plans were needlessly wasteful, assaulted our country's legacy for historic preservation, and were environmentally unsound.

“Working with SAVE Britain's Heritage, we have discovered that there are feasible plans which could save the taxpayer at least half a billion pounds while still allowing us to do the job properly."

Sir Edward said that as the country is suffering from the ongoing economic impact of the coronavirus.

He said: "It is unconscionable to needlessly spend hundreds of millions of pounds when we can achieve better results, more quickly, and for much less money.

"I have spent years campaigning on the restoration of the Palace and I remain very hopeful that the sponsor body will endorse a plan that respects our architectural heritage and is environmentally sensible.”