Key information
Request reference number: MGLA270226-5101
Date of response:
Summary of request
Please provide any recorded information held by the Greater London Authority (or held on its behalf by contractors, conservation specialists, heritage wardens, or partners responsible for Parliament Square Gardens) regarding costs associated with removing the red graffiti and restoring the bronze statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square to its pre-incident condition, following the vandalism reported overnight on or around 26-27 February 2026 (graffiti included phrases such as “Zionist war criminal,” “Free Palestine,” “Stop the Genocide,” “Never again is now,” and “Globalise the Intifada”).
Specifically, please provide:
- Any estimated costs, preliminary quotes, anticipated figures, provisional assessments, or internal notes on expected expenditure for the cleaning/restoration work.
- Any actual costs incurred to date (or final/provisional totals if the work has progressed or completed by the time of your response), including any breakdown where recorded (e.g., specialist labour for bronze conservation, materials/chemicals, equipment, contractor fees, security/monitoring directly linked to the incident).
- Information on the funding source(s) for these costs (e.g., GLA budget allocation, public funds, insurance, or potential recovery).
If no cost information is yet recorded due to the very recent nature of the incident (cleaning was reported underway on 27 February 2026), please confirm this and provide any related recorded updates (e.g., contractor involvement or initial assessments).
Response:
1. Any estimated costs, preliminary quotes, anticipated figures, provisional assessments, or internal notes on expected expenditure for the cleaning/restoration work.
On day 1 we projected costs would be along the lines of:
Immediate call-out cost to Restoration contractor – approximately £700 (initial cleaning cost built-in)
Hire of Mobile Elevating Work Platform - £1,500.
To follow – estimate Repatination of the statue, approximately £2,000
Hire of Mobile Elevating Work Platform - £1,500/day
Maintenance contractor additional costs
Total cost £6,000 to £6500 (does not include additional barriers installed)
2. Any actual costs incurred to date (or final/provisional totals if the work has progressed or completed by the time of your response), including any breakdown where recorded (e.g., specialist labour for bronze conservation, materials/chemicals, equipment, contractor fees, security/monitoring directly linked to the incident).
On completion of the restoration final costs were:
Hire of Police Barriers £612 +VAT
Emergency graffiti clean and restoration 6504 + VAT
3. Information on the funding source(s) for these costs (e.g., GLA budget allocation, public funds, insurance, or potential recovery).
Emergency restoration costs are funded from the GLA maintenance/restoration budget.