The Hindu : International : Scottish Parliament opened

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004

International

International

Scottish Parliament opened

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, OCT. 9. Dogged by controversies and described as an architectural `oddity' by purists, the multi-million pound new Scottish Parliament building finally opened in Edinburgh on Saturday — three years behind schedule. And the Queen who inaugurated it amid great fanfare pointedly referred to its "difficult and controversial birth'' while urging Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to make it a "landmark of 21st century democracy''.

The cost of the new complex in Holyrood — the seat of Scottish Parliament— spiralled from the original estimate of £40 millions to £430 millions amid allegations of irregularities, incompetence and corruption. But on Saturday, it was celebration time, and among the good and great present on the occasion was actor and the original James Bond Sean Connery who called the new building a "second chance for Scottish democracy''. "It is a great day for Scotland and you can see everyone has turned out for it, `' he said.

There was a festival atmosphere as thousands of people gathered in Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a ceremonial procession wound its way to the Holyrood where the Queen formally inaugurated the building.

Each MSP had nominated one person from his or her constituency to the procession to make it a truly representative show.

An ecstatic George Reid, the presiding officer of Scottish Parliament, described the new complex as a "remarkable building— a building that is very close to the people''. Local residents called for past controversies to be set aside and regard the building as part of Scottish `heritage'. "Although there has been a lot of controversy about its cost, it is going to be part of our heritage and so it is a privilege to be here,'' said a student as she watched the procession.

The Scottish First Minister, Jack McConnell, said devolution had been good for Scotland. "Scotland has made progress. Far more progress than would have been possible without a Scottish Parliament,'' he said.

But the Opposition could not resist a dig, and the Scottish Tory leader, David McLetechie, said it was a "matter regret that (because of its cost and repeated postponements) our Parliament has become a matter of shame when it should have been a matter of pride''. A rare voice of dissent on a jolly day.

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