The Daily Telegraph - Saturday
National Trust ‘undermined by woke rows’
Lord Sumption says that he hopes to ‘heal current divisions’ as he seeks place on charity’s council
THE National Trust’s influence and power is being undermined by woke rows, Lord Sumption has said as he announced he is running for the charity’s council.
The former Supreme Court judge said that he is seeking election because the charity is the “most remarkable non-government conservation organisation in the world” with a record for preservation that is “unequalled in any other country”.
The historian added: “I am of course aware of current disputes about the trust’s mission, which I regard as unfortunate, for they undermine its influence and its power for good.”
In recent years, a number of decisions by the charity have led to accusations that it is following a “woke agenda” including by producing a report that linked Winston Churchill to colonialism and slavery.
Bosses have been accused of “dumbing down” by removing important items from display and turning historic homes into “theme parks” for children.
There was a separate backlash after they “outed” a country squire who left the charity his manor. Trust staff at the estate were also asked to wear rainbow lanyards.
Lord Sumption, 74, a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and author of
The Hundred Years’ War, said that he would hope to “help heal current divisions about the trust’s core mission” and earn confidence of both members and management “by focusing on those things that unite them”.
Despite his experience, he has not been endorsed by the trust as a one of its five preferred candidates and it is understood he was not interviewed by the nominations committee.
A spokesman said the committee’s task “is to recommend to members those candidates who most closely meet the criteria agreed by the council” including supporting the “strategic Everyone Welcome priority by improving diversity generally across its community”. They added: “It wouldn’t be fair to other candidates to discuss the number that met the committee.”
Lord Sumption, who is standing independently, has been backed by members’ campaign group Restore Trust.
In his election statement, released by the trust yesterday, Lord Sumption said: “The trust’s focus should remain firmly on conserving landscapes, buildings and collections for future generations, but attention will also need to be paid to newer challenges, notably mitigating the effect of climate change on land and buildings and considering how land can be managed in harmony with the environment.”
There are five vacancies and members will vote before the results are announced at the charity’s AGM in November. The council appoints the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the board of trustees, and holds them to account.
Restore Trust is also backing Philip Gibbs, Andrew Gimson, Lady Violet Manners and Philip Merricks.
A spokesman for the group said: “We have identified five outstandingly qualified candidates who will contribute a range of relevant experience and expertise to the Council. We are particularly disappointed that the National Trust has not taken the opportunity to recommend someone of Lord Sumption’s calibre to the members for election.
“Lord Sumption is one of the finest
‘The trust has become distracted by a political agenda that detracts from its mission’
legal minds of his generation, as well as an exceptionally gifted historian with a passion for historic buildings.
“It is unbelievable that the National Trust is not jumping at the opportunity to have his advice and expertise.”
Lady Violet, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, warned that “the trust has become distracted by a political agenda that detracts from its mission”.
“While heritage needs to remain relevant and interesting for visitors, the trust must not view its history through the political lens of today when conserving the past,” she said.
Mr Gimson, a former sketch writer for The Daily Telegraph and the author of books on British monarchs and prime ministers, argued in his pitch for election that in recent years the trust has “strayed from its proper purposes”.
“It has made knowledgeable long-serving staff redundant, indulged in managerial gobbledygook, promoted a self-hating conception of history, and suppressed well-founded criticism from members.”
The AGM will take place in Swindon on Nov 11.