The Scottish Parliament

'Suddenly Calton Hill was not good enough. There was, it seems, dire dread it could become a Nationalist shibboleth. So an idiotic site is selected, on a Holyrood swamp serviced by a couple of cycle lanes; meantime, there ensues a mad quest for a temporary abode, and what should be picked but the former Strathclyde Regional Council building, thereby fulfilling every slander and prophecy arch-Unionists had hurled at devolution for decades? So Edinburgh is furious; and then, suddenly, Glasgow's bid is cancelled, and it's Edinburgh after all - General Assembly hall, and all that - except, of course, Edinburgh is still in a great huff, and Glasgow is left seething with rage.' John MacLeod, in the Herald, 24 th March 1998.

The Scottish Parliament Buildings

Disaster hits Fawlty Parliament

Donald : What is that? Enric : Is my parliament. Donald : ... Parliament? Enric : Si Si Donald : Enric, that's a boat. Enric : Parliament Donald : It's a boat! Enric : No, no, is parliament Donald : Well of course it's a boat! You have boats in Spain, don't you? - or did Franco have them all sunk? Enric : No, is parliament Donald : Is boat Enric : No, I think so too. Donald : What? Enric : I say to man on beach. 'Is boat' He say 'No, no, is special kind of parliament. Is Filigree Scottish parliament. Only one on beach'. He make special price for plans, only ten million pound. Donald : Have you ever heard of the Titanic, Enric? It was very popular here at one time.... From the 'Donald the Rat' episode of Fawlty Parliaments

2nd March 2006. The £ 440 million Scottish Parliament building is evacuated after part of the roof of the debating chamber collapses

• The Royal High School at Calton Hill - Rejected

• The Scottish Office site at Leith Waterfront - Rejected

• Morrison Street car park at Haymarket - Rejected

• The Assembly Halls on the Mound - Temporary Accomodation

• The Scottish & Newcastle HQ at Holyrood - Dewar's somewhat bizarre choice

• The Prime Minister's Residence in Charlotte Square - A home for Alex or for Donnie & Little Jimmy?

• Dover House in London - A new home for Tory Blur?

• Scotland House in Brussels - A mini-embassy for Scotland?

  And what about Westminster? Don't worry. There may have been outrage from Westminster MPs that £50 m is being spent on a new Scottish Parliament, but we haven't heard much complaining from them about the £250 m which is being spent on new offices for 200 of them.

• Portcullis House - Britian's most expensive building

The Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle was often used for Parliaments