Project management

As BBC Directory of Strategy and Education James Purnell and new non-executive Sir Nicholas Serota chinwag at the next BBC Executive Boad, I am reminded that Jim once helped Nick out with a few bob.

Back in 2007, when Sir Nick wanted a set of Herzog/de Meuren glass boxes as an extension to the Tate Modern, Jim, as Culture Secretary, coughed up £50m of taxpayer funding. "This is a really important moment for Tate, and for London. Herzog and de Meuron's astonishing design will create a stunning new landmark for the capital....  I know that this new development, which we hope will be completed in time for 2012, will prove once and for all that London is the cultural capital of the world."

The complex design was re-engineered back to brick, and finally emerged as The Switch House in June this year.