If the Dome is the "monumental disaster" claimed by the shadow culture secretary, perhaps he could reflect it is a Tory disaster, being the idea of Michael Heseltine. When in government he went to see Tony Blair to ask him, when elected, not to veto work which had already started on the project.

Celebrating a number on a calendar always was a stupid notion but I have yet to meet anyone who has been to the Dome and not enjoyed it. And, after all, lottery money comes from people with money to spare.

-Roger Boniface, Woodpecker Drive, Hailsham