Idealism meets good old political wrangling as the New Scottish Parliament shapes up It's a new day for Scottish independence. History is being quite literally built as blueprints for Parliament buildings in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park are implemented. Plans for the New Scottish Parliament include family-friendly hours for MSPs and staff, a system designed to encourage compromise, and an informal, first-name basis for relations between MSPs. The Parliament is also considered to be a step in the direction of Scotland's devolution from England, and the new Scottish government will surely be testing the limits of its independence from Westminster. Other news this week English take over Edinburgh Castle Latest technique to fight cancer tested in Dundee Features this week: King MacBeth - this week's Famous Scot All about "The Kilt" Clan of the Week: Clan Kinnaird Cut to: Scottish Film One newly-elected MSP thumbed his nose at southern sovereignty when, during his swearing-in, he pledged allegiance to the Queen's "hair and accessories," instead of her "heirs and successors." The swearing-in took place at Parliament's temporary home, Church of Scotland Assembly Hall in Edinburgh. Idealism and heady independence aside, though, there has been no shortage of old-fashioned politics since the new government was elected May 6. Donald Dewar, leader of the Labour Party, has been sworn in as First Minister, but his minority win has forced him to struggle through difficult coalition negotiations with the Liberal Democrats. An agreement was signed, despite disagreements about post-secondary tuition and taxes. The Lib Dem election promise to scrap tuition fees likely goes by the wayside with the coalition deal; students are planning a protest march from Glasgow to Edinburgh, where they will arrive at the official opening of Parliament on July 1. If all goes as planned, protesting students may get a glimpse of the Queen's hair and accessories when they arrive in Edinburgh; the monarch is scheduled to perform the official opening. And among other things, the Scottish National Party, which claimed 35 seats in the election, is objecting to the planned 10-million pound construction of Parliament buildings at Holyrood, saying that the present home is comfortable -- both physically and fiscally. South of the border, Tory MPs in Westminster were waging a campaign to strip Scottish MPs of their right in the British Parliament, but to no avail. --MRB May-25-99