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![]() Friday, February 20, 1998 Published at 19:41 GMT ![]() ![]() ![]() UK ![]() Anger at art 'looting' by Lord Irvine ![]() Critics argue that the Scottish public will no longer be able to see works of art
Anger has been growing in Scotland over the revelation that the Lord Chancellor is
to take art works reported to be worth £1m from Scottish galleries to his
London home.
Scores of works will be removed to decorate Lord Irvine's luxurious official
Palace of Westminster residence which he will move into in April following
refurbishments worth £650,000.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, said:
"These paintings are for people to see. Unless the Lord Chancellor can stretch
his large expenses budget to free flights to his London palace for people in
Scotland then he should return the paintings.
"Tony Blair's new slogan should be - For the few, not the many."
Among the eight paintings borrowed from the Scottish National Gallery in
Edinburgh are two important McTaggarts, a Geddes, a Wilkie and a Boudin.
Some 19
plaster busts and 10 rare prints from the gallery have also been lent.
From the National Gallery a number of 18th and 19th century prints of
luminaries from politics, science and arts have been lent.
"I don't think we have ever refused any government body before. We lend to
the Secretary of State in Scotland at Bute House and Dover House and to the
Prime Minister."
Mr Clifford said the loans were agreed to in September and the Lord Chancellor
and his wife had visited the galleries last summer to look at the works.
Leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond described the move as one
of "unbelievable arrogance".
But a spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's department insisted that none
of the works were being taken down from galleries.
"None of the works are currently on display anywhere. There are 80 pieces of
art being provided from the Royal Academy, the National Maritime Museum, the
National Gallery of Scotland and the Imperial War Museum.
But Mr Salmond added: "There are plenty of public buildings in Scotland which
could house these items and thereby ensure genuine public access.
"Taking them down to Derry Irvine's house in London is nothing to do with
access but everything to do with self aggrandisement."
Tory reaction
Shadow Culture Secretary Francis Maude said:
"Power has gone to his head. Not to mention his furniture. It is not
surprising his colleagues are getting fed up with it all."
But Downing Street has come to the aid of the Lord Chancellor, A spokesperson said the story had been overblown and that press
coverage of Lord Irvine's activities had been consistently unfair.
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