The Big Question

Angie Lawrence
Single mother
Yes – in principle. My main concern would be that voting
via national TV might mean that more well-known causes may benefit
at the expense of the smaller concerns, which already have greater
difficulty acquiring funding. Perhaps the Lottery distributors
could ensure that these causes still got sufficient air time.

Joan Scott
Inspired Services
It is the public’s money and it is the public who should
decide who gets the money. Some groups will lose out but I think
that it is better to have a public vote rather than the same team
of people all the time. I hope the public will choose the good
causes like supporting parents with learning difficulties and
helping premature babies.

Len Smith
Gypsy activist
The public sitting at home should not be able to decide
on the distribution of Lottery funds. This would allow the media to
whip up campaigns against unpopular, though probably quite worthy,
causes. However, a greater representation of a broad spectrum of
the public on the Lottery Board might be a good thing.

Karen Shook
Disability equality adviser
It is acceptable in theory. But people give according to
their personal interests and what is relevant to them. If Lottery
funding is subject to who wins the public vote in the glare of the
media, then funding will always go to those deemed acceptable and
“needy”, and smaller charities will miss out.