Former National Trust boss says charity going ‘in the wrong direction’ | UK | News


The National Trust is heading “going in the wrong direction” according to a former chairman of the charity, Sir William Proby.

He says he has “been reluctant to criticise my successors” but has raised concerns about the way the charity is being run.

His comments were in response to a report accusing the trust of “abuse of power and a subversion of democracy” due to changes in voting at its annual meeting.

The report, titled ‘National Distrust: The End of Democracy in the National Trust’, urged ministers to introduce laws to “prohibit all anti-democratic measures” and called for an inquiry by the Charity Commission.

It pointed out recent changes as areas of concern, including the voting system at annual meetings, which it claimed favoured management’s preferences and limited attendance.

The report was written by Zewditu Gebreyohanes, a senior researcher at the Legatum Institute think tank and ex-head of Restore Trust, a members’ campaign group. She stated that the charity’s leadership had “actively … stifled dissent from members”.

Restore Trust was established in 2021 following anger over a “woke agenda” at the charity after it released a report linking its properties, including Winston Churchill’s former home, to colonialism and slavery.

The campaign group has accused the leadership of “dumbing down” history, claiming that it has lost its curatorial expertise in recent years and prioritised “visitor experience” over heritage.

In recent years, other areas have been criticised, including the decision to reveal a country squire’s sexuality 48 years after his death and asking staff and volunteers to wear gay pride symbols.

Sir William, who was chairman of the trust from 2003 to 2008, expressed his belief that “governance changes in recent years are taking this great institution in the wrong direction”.

This is the first time Sir William, who has also held senior positions at the Historic Houses Association and the National Portrait Gallery, has publicly criticised the trust’s leadership. It is unusual for a former chairman to intervene in public debate about the charity.

“The National Trust has always attracted controversy,” wrote Sir William. “This is because of its importance in our national life and the passion which so many people feel for what it does. This is healthy and should be welcomed by the management and board of trustees.

“A truly democratic structure allows these issues to be debated, voted on, and the organisation can move on. Stifling dissent will only lead to a running sore of disaffected members outside the organisation, which inevitably will damage this great institution.”

Sir William quoted as saying that he hoped the report would encourage the charity and the regulator “to look again at its governance” and restore “democratic principles”.

Responding to Sir William’s concerns, a spokesman for the trust told The Telegraph: “The National Trust is an independent charity, regulated – like all UK charities – by the Charity Commission.

“We have open and democratic governance processes, and are accountable both to our regulators and to our members. Our members firmly rejected a resolution suggesting government oversight in our work via an ombudsman at our AGM in 2022.

“‘Quick vote’ was introduced following advice from our independent election services provider that it is standard practice for large membership bodies. We will continue to take advice on what is standard electoral practice from accountable, regulated institutions that are experts in this field, and which have their own transparent systems of governance.”



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