THE Kassam Stadium, Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre and Oxford University’s historic colleges have been suggested as temporary homes for Parliament if MPs leave London.

With major repairs desperately needed at Parliament’s current home at the Palace of Westminster, an independent group of experts suggested the institution should move out for six years.

Birmingham and Manchester have both been suggested as possible temporary homes but a new survey has put Oxford in third place.

The History of Parliament Trust and publisher St James’s House Media asked more than 2,000 people where Parliament should move to and 19 per cent said Oxford.

It put the city ahead of Cambridge, which came fourth and Leeds, which came fifth.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “I think it is an eminently sensible suggestion. We would welcome it with open arms.

“We might have to employ one of the colleges, or perhaps we could put it in Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre. But that might impact on sports clubs.

“There is a lot of space at the Kassam Stadium too, perhaps we could build a chamber behind one of the stands. That would possibly swell Oxford United’s home crowds a bit as well.

“The problem is, of course, that Oxford is pretty crowded already.

“But it is wonderful that we are getting some good publicity and it is good to be doing better than Cambridge.”

Last month independent experts said MPs and Lords leaving the building for six years would be the cheapest way to carry out repairs, but this would still cost the taxpayer £3.5bn.

Other options include the Lords and Commons moving out at different times, but this would mean repairs take 11 years, or work being carried out without anyone leaving the building.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth said: “I’m sure that David Cameron would love the opportunity to take my seat at County Hall.

“We would work with the government to provide the smooth running of Parliament during any reconstruction.”

But while Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said he would be happy to offer up Town Hall he suggested Oxford could pose some problems for Parliament.

He said: “With all the offices and the car parking and so on I am not sure if we would be big enough.”

Back in 1642, at the start of the Civil War, the Oxford Parliament was proposed as a means of challenging the legitimacy of the Westminster Parliament.