Chris Smith

Smith Says Camelot Bosses Must Heed Public Fury

Mr Smith has summoned Camelot chairman Sir George Russell to an early morning meeting at the National Heritage Department after last week's reports of big salary and bonus packages received by Camelot directors. Sir George may also be accompanied by colleagues Tim Holley, Camelot Chief Executive and David Rigg, communications director.

The National Heritage Secretary has suggested he might have "one or two" proposals to make to them. Mr Smith told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost that there was a "gulf between public expectation and private behaviour at Camelot. They really do need to take account of what the people who provide the dosh that runs Camelot, who buy the tickets, have to say."

Chris Smith talking on Breakfast with Frost

He said he would make clear that "the people who play the Lottery are absolutely furious at the news that's come out this week about the amount of money Camelot directors are paying themselves. They have to think about what they're doing and reform the way in which they are behaving."

Complementing Camelot on their initial work in establishing the Lottery, he said "... they did it very well and on time and they deserve credit for that. But now the thing is up and running, running itself well, I'm not sure, with the monopoly situation of the National Lottery, that this is the right way for the directors of the organisation to behave."

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Camelot reaction

Hague Anti-Bonuses

Hague: Against big increases

Asked on BBC 1's On the Record if he would advise the Camelot directors not to take the increases, Mr Hague said: "I would say that was my opinion. I don't think the Conservative Party should hold back about these things. I don't think we should be afraid to say that some people have abused the position which we and they have put them in."

"We believe in a society in which people can be rewarded for hard work and initiative and be able to get on in life, but we also believe in a society in which people should not abuse their position and in which the treatment of individuals should be seen to be fair."

William Hague with his views on the Lottery pay rises