Janet Street-Porter angers Loose Women viewers by arguing that Notre-Dame shouldn’t be rebuilt

Janet Street Porter angered Loose Women viewers today when she said that Notre-Dame in Paris shouldn’t be rebuilt.

Janet, 72, was discussing the fire with colleagues on the ITV show today, and despite saying how sad she was about the fire, she also said that the money should go to more ‘worthy causes.’

The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris was built in 1163 and has since become part of the Parisian landscape and a popular tourist attraction. 

Last night the cathedral burnt down, with millions around the world expressing their sadness about the news. Since then nearly €600 million has been pledged to help rebuild the cathedral.

The Loose Women spoke about how sad they were about the iconic building burning down but also discussed whether the money raised to rebuild it should go to more worthy causes.  

Janet’s comments angered viewers, who took to Twitter to say that Janet was wrong about Notre-Dame – as it’s part of our history.  

The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris was built in 1163 and has since become part of the Parisian landscape and a popular tourist attraction

Janet’s comments angered viewers, who took to Twitter to say that Janet was wrong and Notre-Dame – as it is part of our history

Earlier on in the show Coleen Nolan had began by saying that she was shocked with the news: ‘I was really sad by it and I think it’s because you see hundreds and hundreds of years of history burning to the ground. No matter what they do they can never get it back again.’

Andrea agreed that it was an ‘iconic building’ and there was definitely something ‘so romantic and special’ about it.

Janet also said that it: ‘Represents more than just a building. It’s part of the French civilisation. British kings were crowned in it hundreds of years ago so it’s a symbol of so many things but it was the Grenfell fire that really shocked me so let’s not detract from that because that was truly horrible because of all the people inside.’

But she went on to say: ‘I was sad to see it burn down but I don’t necessarily want to see it rebuilt.’

The Loose Women panel debated how much money should be given to the burnt down Notre-Dame cathedral

Earlier on in the show Coleen Nolan had began by saying that she was shocked with the news

Last night Notre-Dame cathedral burnt down, with millions around the world expressing their sadness about the news. Since then nearly €600 million  has been pledged to help rebuild the cathedral.

Many disagreed with Janet on Twitter and indicated that other historic buildings had been rebuilt.

One viewer wrote: ‘#LooseWomen UK rebuilt Windsor & York, millions are being spent on refurbishing the House of Parliament & Big Ben, & millions would be spent on Buckingham Palace if anything happened to that. What Paris do to rebuild Notre Dame is up to them it’s there history.’

Another said: I was only half listening but did @The_Real_SJP on #LooseWomen just liken the Paris fire to Grenfell and say #notredame shouldn’t be rebuilt??’

Many Loose Women viewers disagreed with the panel of Loose Women and said that deserves to be rebuilt

While another said: ‘@loosewomen @The_Real_SJP is so wrong – I usually agree with her but Notre Dame is important and should be rebuilt. We rebuilt York…history is important.’

Andrea agreed with Janet and mentioned the millions of euros that had been donated to reconstructing the building. 

‘I think you’re right Janet it does make you think. People are coming together to rebuild an iconic building but actually there are some incredibly worthy causes that people don’t automatically rush to give hundreds of millions of euros to.’ 

Andrea Mclean said that it was an ‘iconic building’ and there was definitely something ‘so romantic and special’ about it.

Andrea agreed with Janet and mentioned the millions of euros that had been donated to reconstructing the building

A viewer on Twitter disagreed and said: ‘Yes there are better causes, but it’s not like if the money wasn’t used for rebuilding Notre-Dame it would go to people in more need anyway. Is that money not being raised for that purpose: #LooseWomen’

While another person stated: ’13 million people visit the Notre Dame every year… that brings a lot of money with it’.

Janet seemed to have a lot to say on the subject, adding: ‘If you go less than 10 miles to the suburbs in Paris, large parts – they’ve had some money poured into them but it’s a problem the government can’t solve. 

Janet also went on to say that you can restore these buildings again and again but they weren’t necessarily meant to stand this long. Instead, she suggested ‘rebuilding parts of it as a memorial’

Fellow panelist Coleen said: ‘It’s all that history. It survived everything, all those wars. I think it’s that that’s shocking.’

‘People are living in poverty, illegally, there’s drug dealing, gang warfare, and parts of Paris that the police won’t go to.’

‘So where are these billionaires, why aren’t they coughing up for that? What about all the poor people in Calais? Where’s all the money to help them?’

Janet also went on to say that you can restore these buildings again and again but they weren’t necessarily meant to stand this long. Instead, she suggested ‘rebuilding parts of it as a memorial’.

However fellow panelist Coleen said: ‘It’s all that history. It survived everything, all those wars. I think it’s that that’s shocking.’