Why did NTS pick Neil Oliver? – Angus Robertson

Following Neil Oliver’s announcement that he will step down as president of National Trust for Scotland – shortly after tweeting his “love” for historian David Starkey – the charity must now choose his successor wisely, writes Angus Robertson
Neil Oliver tweeted a pro-Brexit campaigner, asking him to tell David Starkey that 'I love him' shortly before the controversial historian spoke about 'so many damn blacks' in an interview condemned as racistNeil Oliver tweeted a pro-Brexit campaigner, asking him to tell David Starkey that 'I love him' shortly before the controversial historian spoke about 'so many damn blacks' in an interview condemned as racist
Neil Oliver tweeted a pro-Brexit campaigner, asking him to tell David Starkey that 'I love him' shortly before the controversial historian spoke about 'so many damn blacks' in an interview condemned as racist

What is going on with the National Trust for Scotland? It’s bad enough that the institution that maintains so many national treasures is in financial difficulties.

Now it’s in the headlines again because of controversial statements by its president Neil Oliver about racist historian David Starkey.

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Last week Starkey was rightly condemned for his comments about “so many damn blacks”. He was immediately dropped by his publishers and removed from a number of academic posts.

This had been preceded by Neil Oliver tweeting notorious pro-Brexit campaigner Darren Grimes about Starkey, saying: “Tell him I love him, by all means.”

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Neil Oliver to step down from National Trust for Scotland role days after Twitte...

Readers will recall Starkey’s well-reported past comparison of the SNP with the Nazis, and his description of Scotland, Wales and Ireland as “feeble little countries”.

Neil Oliver himself has form with his vitriolic attacks on the SNP and describing an independence referendum as a “cancerous presence”.

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I don’t understand why National Trust for Scotland decision-makers thought such a high-profile partisan commentator was a good choice for the role in the first place.

Despite the intention of the NTS board of trustees to re-appoint Oliver, he has now announced his intention to step down.

The National Trust for Scotland is desperately seeking funds to protect the heritage of everyone in this country regardless of their political views. Surely they must do better as a first step by appointing somebody as president who has the widest possible trust and support of the public. They will need that if they want to restore NTS finances and retain members.

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