A campaign for the tower housing Big Ben to be renamed in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee has moved a step closer after it was revealed that a majority of MPs support the proposal.

Forty MPs have signed a Commons early day motion calling for the east tower at the Palace of Westminster to be formally named the Elizabeth Tower.

The motion was tabled by Conservative Tobias Ellwood and has the backing of all three main party leaders.

Ed Miliband also tweeted his support for the plans:


Ed Miliband
On Diamond Jubilee weekend, welcome news the Clock Tower looks like being renamed Elizabeth Tower

A formal letter of support has also been circulated with more than half of MPs signing up to the proposal, Mr Ellwood said.

He has written to Commons leader Sir George Young to request that he raises the matter with the House of Commons Commission for formal consideration later this month.

Mr Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, said: "Over the last three months I have sought opinion from fellow Members of Parliament to request the House of Commons Commission take forward the proposal to re-name the Clock Tower the Elizabeth Tower, in recognition of Her Majesty's 60 years of unbroken public service on behalf of her country.

"Commemorating such an iconic landmark is indeed a truly exceptional tribute and I am grateful that a majority of MPs have now confirmed that the Queen deserves such an outstanding accolade."

Such a move would not be without precedent.

When the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt in 1860 the west tower, known as the King's Tower, was renamed the Victoria Tower to commemorate the long reign of Queen Victoria - the only other monarch to complete 60 years on the throne.

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    Queen Elizabeth II meets service personnel from the Army, Navy and RAF during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Parade and Muster in Windsor, Berkshire.

  • Katherine Jenkins makes her way onto the course to sing the national anthem as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the Epsom Derby at Epsom race course, southern England at the start of a four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne Saturday, June 2, 2012. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is attending the Epsom Derby on Saturday as the country is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

  • Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center left, shakes hands with a racegoer as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, second left, and Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Sarah Goad, center behind, follow at the Epsom Derby, Epsom, southern England Saturday June 2, 2012 on the first day of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo/Ben Stansall, Pool)

  • Diamond Jubilee celebrations

    Marcella Ross wears a Queen Elizabeth II face mask as bowlers get in the Diamond Jubilee party spirit ahead of their mixed triples match at Fintry Bowling club during Jubilee weekend.

  • Diamond Jubilee celebrations

    Marcella Ross wears a Queen Elizabeth II face mask as bowlers get in the Diamond Jubilee party spirit ahead of their mixed triples match at Fintry Bowling club during Jubilee weekend.

  • Diamond Jubilee celebrations

    Marcella Ross wears a Queen Elizabeth II face mask as bowlers get in the Diamond Jubilee party spirit ahead of their mixed triples match at Fintry Bowling club during Jubilee weekend.

  • Royal Jubilee preparations

    Larry the Downing Street cat sits with bunting in the garden of number 10 Downing Street, London, as the Prime MinisterâÄôs residence is bedecked with patriotic livery to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

  • Royal Jubilee preparations

    Larry the Downing Street cat plays with bunting in the garden of number 10 Downing Street, London, as the Prime MinisterâÄôs residence is bedecked with patriotic livery to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

  • Jubilee Kilo coins

    Both sides of the Royal Mint's first ever UK silver Kilo Coin has been created to mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and features in fine detail the Royal Coat of Arms which graces the gates of Buckingham Palace.

  • Diamond Jubilee preparations

    Terry Hutt, from Cambridge, camps out on The Mall in anticipation of the weekend's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

  • Diamond Jubilee preparations

    Dan Williams puts up a union flag at during preparations for a Jubilee street party on Canal Street in Manchester.

  • Blair Drummond Safari Park Diamond Jubilee preparations

    An Ostrich plays with flags that have been put up by staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling ahead of their Jubilee Funday being held on Sunday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday June 1, 2012. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

  • Blair Drummond Safari Park Diamond Jubilee preparations

    Brown Lemurs play with flags that have been put up by staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling ahead of their Jubilee Funday being held on Sunday. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday June 1, 2012. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

  • Queen Elizabeth II, Joseph O'Brien

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II presents the trophy to the winning jockey of the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup race Joseph O'Brien who rode St Nicholas Abbey during the Epsom Derby at Epsom race course, southern England at the start of a four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne, Saturday, June 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

  • The British-German club Duisburg celebrates the Diamond Jubilee that marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne with a comical parade and a picnic on a float on a lake in Duisburg, western Germany, Saturday, June 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

  • Diamond Jubilee celebrations

    A young 'knight' on horseback from St George's Church joins the parade through the town of Chichester, England, as part of the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Saturday June 2, 2012. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is attending the Epsom Derby among other events on Saturday as the country is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo / Chris Ison, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES

  • Adam, six and Lucy Fergusson, seven, dressed as the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during a parade through Chichester, England as part of the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Saturday June 2, 2012. Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo/Chris Ison/PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

  • This photo released by Britain's Ministry of Defense, MOD, shows the 21 gun salute by the 206 Ulster Battery Royal Artillery during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Hillsborough Castle, Lisburn, Northern Ireland Saturday June 2, 2012. Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo/MoD/Crown Copyright) NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

  • Spectators enjoy the day of horse racing as they take pictures of themselves on Derby Day at Epsom Downs Race course, Epsom, England, Saturday, June 2, 2012. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is attending the Epsom Derby on Saturday as the country is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

  • Newly married bride Vee Curry and her husband David Curry stand outside the town hall in Morpeth, England, Saturday, June 2, 2012, decorated with Jubilee bunting, following their wedding ceremony. The bride said it was 'fitting' to be married on the day the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a four-day holiday weekend of ceremony, symbolism and street parties. AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

  • Sarah Willcock, left, and her daughter Nieva, are seen enjoying a ride on a carousel at a old style traditional fairground in honor of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, England, Saturday, June 2, 2012. AP Photo/Scott Heppell)