London - Dame Helena Shovelton last night resigned as chairperson of the British National Lottery Commission. The Culture Secretary, Mr Chris Smith, accepted her resignation and announced he was "sorry" to see her go.
The resignation follows a turbulent time for the Commission. After announcing that it was only prepared to talk to Richard Branson's People's Lottery for the new licence to run the game, it was later embarrassed by a legal challenge in the High Court from current operator Camelot.
