Dewar 'prepared to break rules' to ensure Miralles was architect

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Archiseek / UK / Scotland / News / 2003 / November 29

Donald Dewar was prepared to break strict European tendering rules to make sure Catalan architect Enric Miralles was appointed as designer of the Holyrood parliament, it emerged last night. Evidence published by the Holyrood Inquiry showed the late Scottish Secretary had suggested to colleagues that he would find a way round the rules if Mr Miralles submitted a tender which was too high. Opposition politicians reacted with astonishment to the revelation, claiming it showed the depth of the failures at an early stage which put the parliament building on course for its present problems. One said it appeared Mr Dewar was prepared to "rip up the rule book".

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