Lord McCluskey, the former judge and Solicitor General has criticised the public inquiry process into Edinburgh's convoluted proposals for the development of the city's Haymarket junction.

He also took a personal swipe at project architect Richard Murphy, accusing him of professional tastelessness.

"Such people should remember with some humility that it was architects who destroyed George Square and St James's Square, building in their place the Appleton Tower and the egregious St James Centre. Edinburgh abounds with other examples of the professional tastelessness of so many of our professional architects," he said.

"He accuses the Scottish Government – and presumably the inquiry reporter – of 'timidity'. So, who were Alex Salmond and his colleagues frightened of? The residents of the Dalry Road colonies [Editor's note: Edinburgh]? The denizens of [Edinburgh's] Morrison Street? The parishioners of St Mary's Anglican Cathedral [Edinburgh] ? Chuck it, Murphy: try laughing less and listening more.

"The planning system was biased in favour of the developers. Their case, presented by expensive lawyers, was substantially financed by the taxpayer. Those who opposed the proposals had to raise money from their own pockets to enable the [Edinburgh's]Cockburn Association to engage counsel."

"When we attended the public inquiry, the developers were given pride of place: we, the private objectors, were not even given tables to keep our papers on, until I protested. Even then, our rights to take part by cross-examination remained expressly limited. Despite the absence of a level playing-field, we demonstrated serious flaws in what was proposed." 

Lord McCluskey also said the hotel development was more suited to the Gorbals district of Glasgow. The area has been substantially redeveloped over the last 40 years.

McCluskey, who is a crossbench peer, has not spoken in any debates in the last year in the House of Lords, and has been absent for over 98% of votes in the House of Lords that he could have attended, according to the public whip's office.  His voting record and attendance is described as below average for the House of Lords.