Minister attacked after UK lottery resignation

LONDON, England -- British Culture Secretary Chris Smith is under fire following the shock resignation of Dame Helena Shovelton as chairman of the UK's National Lottery Commission.

The opposition Conservative party said Dame Helena's decision to quit amid the debacle over the decision to negotiate with one bidder, Sir Richard Branson's People's Lottery, over the UK lottery licence, raised "big questions" over Mr Smith's own future in office.

The surprise announcement that Dame Helena was standing down came on Wednesday night.

It followed Camelot's successful High Court challenge to the Commission's decision to negotiate only with Branson's People's Lottery for the award of the next seven-year licence.

Shadow culture secretary Peter Ainsworth said that Dame Helena's resignation reflected on Mr Smith's handling of the whole affair.

"Chris Smith is in an exposed position because he actually welcomed the decision of the Commission to kick Camelot out of the competition and go on with the People's Lottery bid alone," he told BBC Radio.

"So having welcomed that and that decision now having being exposed as conspicuously unfair, the whole thing having run into the ground, it really does pose big questions over Chris Smith and the way he has handled the affair."

In her letter of resignation to Mr Smith, Dame Helena blamed media coverage of the licence award for her decision to go, complaining that it had amounted to "vilification against me personally".

Her resignation came hours after Camelot turned up the heat, accusing Dame Helena of a "gratuitous insult" by failing to reply to a letter from its chief executive-designate Dianne Thompson.

Ms Thompson had called for Dame Helena to reassure Camelot about specific examples of alleged unfairness identified by the High Court ruling.

The Commission's reply ran to only five paragraphs and was written by Commission chief executive Mark Harris rather than Dame Helena.

In her letter to Mr Smith, Dame Helena, 55, said: "As you know, on the day of the judgment of Mr Justice Richards in the High Court I spoke to you and told you that I was ready to stand down.

"You told me that I had your confidence, and with your encouragement I have carried on in order to ensure that the Commission could undertake the procedure directed by the Court -- namely to afford Camelot the same opportunity as had been given to The People's Lottery."

Dame Helena told Mr Smith that she had always endeavoured to be fair during her time at the Commission and was satisfied that she had acted with complete probity.

But she added the "intensification of the media coverage over the last few days, a great deal of which amounts to vilification directed against me personally" had persuaded her to stand down.

Mr Smith accepted Dame Helena's resignation and announced he was sorry to see her go.

He assured Dame Helena he had no doubt that she and the Commission had acted with scrupulous fairness during the bidding war between Camelot and The People's Lottery.

But he added: "I respect your view however that, in order to put an end to current criticism of your role -- ill-founded though it may be -- and in the overall interests of the National Lottery, it is better for you to stand aside.

He thanked her for the "enormous contribution" she had made to the Commission.

A spokesman for The People's Lottery said he hoped Dame Helena's resignation would not affect its chances of securing the next Lottery licence.

"It was the entire Lottery Commission that decided our bid would raise the most money for good causes, not just Dame Helena.

"Clearly we hope the remaining members of the Commission will stand by that decision and not be bullied into choosing the desperate incumbent," he said.

The National Lottery Commission last night announced that Harriet Spicer had agreed to take on the role of chairman as the search for a new Commissioner was launched.

A statement issued by the Commission thanked Dame Helena for the "skill, determination and dedication" she had shown in her job.

It said: "Her decision to sacrifice her own position for the greater public good is illustrative of her dedication to public service."

The statement added hat the Commission remained committed to awarding the next licence to run the Lottery to the best applicant after giving full and fair consideration to both parties' bids.

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National Lottery Commission
Camelot

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