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MASON ALLEGATION AS THREE STAND
FOR RIBA PRESIDENT

7 May, 2010

By Will Hurst , Elizabeth Hopkirk
bd - the architects' website

Institute's investigation into RIBA London hears claims it is manipulated by freemasons

Three candidates have thrown their hats into the ring to become the next RIBA president amid mounting turmoil over the state of RIBA London and allegations of “masonic” interference.

With just a week left before the closing date for nominations, Roger Shrimplin, Angela Brady and Richard Parnaby had all confirmed they planned to stand, while Populous's Geraint John said he was considering running.

But news of the forthcoming race was overshadowed by the RIBA's admission that an internal investigation into its troubled London region, commissioned by president Ruth Reed, had heard claims that undeclared freemasons were manipulating it.

Shrimplin himself has informed RIBA Council that he is a freemason, but strongly rejects the notion that it is a secret society handing out favours to its members.

Reed told BD that a yet-to-be-published report into London region carried out by RIBA vice president for membership John Devlin includes masonic influence as an “area of concern”.

She added: “As far as I'm aware, it's an issue of a historic nature.”

Reed added that Shrimplin, already a trustee on RIBA's governing board, had been open about his status and had served RIBA in a “very thoughtful and constructive way”.

However, critics pointed out that he had not declared himself a mason in the institute's register of interests, which was specifically introduced to cover membership of the freemasons as well as political allegiances.

RIBA Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of strengthening the rule last year, stating that any member who failed to sign the declaration of interests form — even if they have no interest to declare — “will be excluded”. Despite this, as many as 22 councillors have still to comply.

Former honorary secretary Ian Salisbury said: “The RIBA needs to be very cautious that it doesn't fall into the trap of allowing self-interested groups to advance themselves.”

Former councillor Sam Webb claimed the missing declarations of interest could leave all council decisions since September open to legal challenge.

“You can't make the rules up as you go along,” he said. “If you have masons who have not declared they are masons sitting on a key committee then the RIBA is sunk.”

Shrimplin said he objected to having to list his membership of the freemasons because it did not affect his professionalism.

“It will be in my [election] statement and if people are prejudiced against it, they will have to vote on that basis,” he said. “I'm emphatic about integrity, honesty and tolerance. Those are integral to a liberal society and also basic principles of freemasonry.”

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