Holyrood project director quits

The new building at Holyrood is under construction

The director of the controversial new Scottish Parliament building project has resigned after only seven months in the post.

Senior civil servant Alan Ezzi worked on the administrative side of the Holyrood project, helping to negotiate contracts and providing support to the progress group.

A parliament spokesman said he had left his position after mutual expectations were not fully realised.

Mutual expectations have not been fully realised

Scottish Parliament statement

But the Scottish National Party is calling for a full explanation of the reasons for his departure.

Mr Ezzi took over as director of the Holyrood project last November.

He replaced another civil servant, Barbara Doig, who was criticised by the inquiry into the rising cost of the project.

He was previously capital projects director at Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust, where his responsibilities included overseeing the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The MSP who chairs the project's progress group, Labour's John Home Robertson, said the relationship between Mr Ezzi and the group was just not working.

But he denied that there were any substantial differences over the way the project is being run.

Mike Russell called for a full explanation

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said the pressures on the post were "considerable and increasing".

"Despite this, Mr Ezzi has maintained progress on a number of fronts," said a statement.

"Mutual expectations have not been fully realised and, having reflected on the current position and looking ahead to project completion, the Scottish Parliamentary corporate body has accepted Mr Ezzi's resignation on agreed terms."

He is being replaced by Sarah Davidson, who is currently secretary of the progress group.

The SNP's Mike Russell said his party had been critical of the project from the start.

"This extraordinary development creates new questions about the direction of the ill-starred Holyrood project," he said.

David McLetchie: "Spiralling out of control"

"There must be a very clear and very full explanation of Mr Ezzi's departure as a matter of urgency - starting with whether he resigned or was pushed, and why."

Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie said: "On the face of it, this is further evidence that the Holyrood project is spiralling out of control.

"The full reasons for his resignation are still not clear but when someone so close to the project resigns, then it raises serious questions about its handling by the executive."

However, the Scottish Executive said it was a matter for the parliament.

Later this week, MSPs will be asked to waive the £195m limit on the cost so that quality will not be compromised.

Some sources saying the price tag could rise to around £230m.