'A Landmark of 21st Century Democracy'; the Great and the Good Mark an Historic Day for Scotland with Opening of a Parliament Building Described As 'Simply a Means to Greater Ends'; Opening Ceremony: A Outburst of Comradely Behaviour Might Be the Most Impressive Aspect of Holyrood's Opening

Sunday Herald › October 11, 2004

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Summary

Clockwise from above: George Reid, Jack McConnell; Scotland's crown; the Riding; the Queen and the First Minister Main photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Reuters Judging by yesterday's ceremony, Donald Dewar got it wrong when he said that devolution was a process rather than an event. Celebrating the opening of a building that had become a symbol of shame was always going to be tough, but the state event came close to producing the feelings of solidarity and optimism that were evident in 1999.

As the Queen arrived at the public entrance in a bullet-proof car - yards from her Scottish pad at Holyrood - guests waited patiently in the chamber, using the spare time to make small talk and to look around to see who had been invited.

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'A Landmark of 21st Century Democracy'; the Great and the Good Mark an Historic Day for Scotland with Opening of a Parliament Building Described As 'Simply a Means to Greater Ends'; Opening Ceremony: A Outburst of Comradely Behaviour Might Be the Most Impressive Aspect of Holyrood's Opening

Blair and Brown may have been absent, but their henchmen - John Reid and Alistair Darling - were sitting next to each other. Charles Kennedy sat with Lord Steel, while the SNP's Winnie Ewing chatted to Michael Martin, the Speaker of the UK parliament. Even Fred ...

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