Taxpayers aren’t liable for Mack bill

Glasgow School of Art director Tom Inns has said: ‘We’re going to rebuild the Mackintosh building.’

Estimates of the cost are in excess of £100 million.

The Scottish parliament building was going to cost ‘only’ between £10 million and £40 million – it ended up at more than £414 million. The Edinburgh tram project was going to cost £545 million but it ended up at £1 billion.

So it is likely the cost of rebuilding the ‘Mack’ will also escalate.

Scottish Government Ministers were quick to promise funds but had no right to do so. Those who want the work done should finance any shortfall from insurance – not the taxpayer.

Large donations from Nicola Sturgeon and MSPs would show a good example. Clark Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian