Composer James MacMillan is on a crusade for Scottish culture. “The Scottish executive’s opposition to so-called elitist art is causing damage to Scotland’s reputation but also to its sense of itself. They have built a palace for themselves in the shape of the Scottish parliament at a cost of £440m – 10 times above the supposed price – yet they’re allowing Scottish Opera to go to the wall for a tiny amount. It represents a cultural vandalism that has to be challenged.”