A Conservative MP wrote to the Charity Commission about the National Trust earlier this week, after telling Parliament that he believed there was “rot within the organisation”.
Derek Thomas, who represents the constituency of St Ives in Cornwall, said that he believed the charity’s actions as a landlord and landowner sometimes made “impositions on lives and livelihoods without any right to reply or recourse”.
The government minister responding in the House of Commons said that senior staff at the National Trust were likely to be “alarmed and concerned” about the allegations raised.
The charity said it takes seriously all concerns raised by MPs and is in touch with Mr Thomas.
An 'unaccountable body'
Speaking in an adjournment debate on Tuesday, Thomas told parliament: “It is time for the government and/or the Charity Commission to review whether the National Trust is behaving in a way that is consistent with its purpose.
“I say that because I see increasing evidence of the National Trust appearing to reach far beyond what people believe to be its purpose and function, acting at times as a completely unaccountable body that can make impositions on lives and livelihoods without any right to reply or recourse, having no concern for how long it takes to engage, even when individuals and businesses seek proactively to engage and appease National Trust staff.”
Thomas, who was elected in 2015, said that he received a “disproportionate” amount of correspondence from constituents worried about the behaviour of the National Trust.
The MP said that constituents had told him about concerns including the charity blocking developments on private-owned land, charging businesses in return for the charity’s consent to build on their own properties, long delays to finalise covenants, and a failure to maintain properties on National Trust land.
Call for review of charity
Thomas quoted one constituent, who described the Trust as a “giant and powerful organisation [which] is making uninformed, inaccurate and hugely detrimental decisions that are inconsistent.
“Their interpretation is preventing small family farms from farming and could cause many of us to go out of business, as many farmers do not have the spare capital to litigate against such a huge organisation”.
Thomas concluded: “I have enjoyed a good relationship with most of the National Trust, [although] possibly not after this evening.
“I do not believe that the Trust is rotten to the core, but there is certainly rot within the organisation.
“There is a need to review how it operates, to ensure that it can deliver on its primary purpose and charitable aims and continue to provide all the value added that it does to our country.”
Answering for the government, culture minister Nigel Huddleston declined to comment on the specific allegations raised.
However, Huddleston said: “Where charities are making decisions that impact on local communities, they must, as a matter of good practice, engage with those communities and listen to their concerns and the strength of local feeling, to ensure that they are properly informed before making their decision.
“That area is, as we have heard, potentially an area of weakness for the Trust, and it must consider the comments made today.”
He added: “I know that the National Trust executive team will be alarmed and concerned to hear that they are not seen to be as responsive as they could be to some MPs and their constituents.”
National Trust: We are in 'active dialogue' with MPs
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We are aware of Tuesday’s debate about the 125th anniversary of the National Trust.
"After 125 years the National Trust continues the mission that inspired its founders in 1895. Our statutory purpose, to preserve our historical and natural places, is as relevant now as it has ever been.
“The National Trust strives to maintain good relationships with the local communities in which we operate. We take all concerns raised by MPs seriously and are in active dialogue with Mr Thomas about the points he raised during the debate.”
Charity defended over new strategy
The National Trust has also faced criticism in recent months over its new strategy for informing visitors about the colonial history of some of its properties.
However, the veteran Conservative MP Peter Bottomley used the same debate to defend the charity from these criticisms.
Bottomley told Parliament: “I congratulate the National Trust on having an interactive exhibition some years ago showing what it was doing, long before it became fashionable to look to see what the past included.
“It would be kind to the National Trust for us to recognise that there is a variety of views on the Conservative Benches, and I will speak up for that.”
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