Mr Millennium

Blair Makes Mandelson "Mr Millennium"

Mr Mandelson, the Minister without Portfolio has been given the job of making the end-of-the-century exhibition an outstanding success.

He told staff they could expect decisive leadership from here on in as they worked to create an exhibition that would be an "unforgettable thrill" for visitors.

The Government ended months of uncertainty about the project's future on Thursday by saying the £580 million Millennium Exhibition will go ahead. Building work on the centre-piece PVC and steel dome that will house the exhibition will begin next week as planned - but Mr Blair has ordered a complete revamp of the project.

It is understood that the arguments of former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine in favour of the project weighed heavily with the Government. He is thought to still be a Millennium Commissioner and so will have a continuing say in the project, but he is not expected to be given a front-line role by the new Government.

Mr Mandelson will hope to enjoy a similar success to that of his grandfather Herbert Morrison, who earned the nickname "Lord Festival" after bringing the 1951 Festival of Britain back from the brink of disaster.

Mr Mandelson told staff at exhibition organisers Millennium Central, "We are going to draw a line in the sand at the end of this period of uncertainty. It was right for the Government to thoroughly examine the exhibition from every angle to see whether it was viable and achievable. We are satisfied it is, so there are no ifs and buts."

"It's going ahead with the commitments made at Cabinet yesterday on cost, content, legacy, national programme and management. I have reassured management that they will get quick and firm decisions rather than have to wait, often for conflicting opinions, from different quarters of Whitehall.

"The whole exhibition must give an unforgettable thrill to those who visit. It will provide a window into the future - who we are, how we live, and what the future holds for us."

It was also being made clear tonight in Whitehall that National Heritage Secretary Chris Smith remained in overall control of the general Millennium plans.

On Thursday the Cabinet went on to apply five tough new tests to the scheme.

1. The exhibition must be durable and able to last "for ever", rather than have to be pulled down within a couple of years.
2. There should be no extra burden on the public purse to fund the project, which at the moment is estimated at a total of £580 million which would come from National Lottery cash and business sponsorship as well as ticket sales.
3. The Government wants the content of the exhibition to be made more exciting, with more detail on precisely what will be inside the dome.
4. The project must relate to the whole nation and involve links with Scotland, Wales and the regions.
5. There must be a new management structure with an injection of new people who are "ideas merchants and creative forces".

Greenwich in 1997... ... and in the Millennium?

A Downing Street spokesman said the changes amounted to a "relaunch" of the project but it would be carried out quickly as time was running out for such a major scheme.

The fact that scrapping the project would involve a multi-million pound financial loss is said to have heavily influenced Mr Blair. But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott had reportedly argued vigorously for the scheme to be saved. No vote was taken at the Cabinet as they were in apparent agreement to go-ahead, even though public opinion has been sharply divided.

The Cabinet decision was warmly welcomed by the dome's architect, Lord Rogers. Describing it as "courageous and visionary", he added: "This is a huge vote of confidence in the people of this nation and their ability to create and deliver an event of world significance."