The National Trust for Scotland has dismissed claims that its membership has fallen significantly since the announcement of Neil Oliver as its new president.
Oliver’s appointment was announced at the end of September, and sparked furious debate on social media about the future of the charity.
Much of the outcry came from corners of the independence movement, who complained of Oliver’s attack on the nationalist movement in Scotland in 2014.
When asked how many members of the Trust had cancelled their membership following the announcement, it responded that 50 had done so, out of a total of 380,000 members as of August 2017.
Following a request from this website, the Trust reported most of the complaints about Oliver’s appointment had come from non-members, “with no connection to the Trust”.
A spokesperson also added the number of people who had joined the Trust “as a result of” Oliver’s appointment was equal to the number who had left, along with a number of “messages of support”.
A spokesman for the National Trust for Scotland said: “The National Trust for Scotland is a politically neutral charity and has no interest in any individual’s political views.
“Our job is to protect the wonderful places in our care and share and celebrate Scotland’s amazing history and spectacular scenery with as many people as we can.
“The role of President is largely an ambassadorial one, supporting our fundraising and engagement activities and spreading the word about our work generally, so in looking for a new person to take on this role the Trust was looking for someone who could help us take that message to even more people.
“Neil Oliver has done a fantastic job in promoting the heritage, history and archaeology of Scotland and that clearly chimes with our objectives as a charity. These are the skills and qualifications which led to his nomination and appointment.”
The accusations of Oliver’s political leanings emerged in an interview with the Sunday Times last year, in which he said: “Now that there is talk of a second referendum, my problem with it is over the continued uncertainty.
“I thought it would be put to bed on September 19, 2014 – but it hasn’t been. I think any uncertainty for any reason is a cancerous presence. I’m aware of it.”
He is also accused of whitewashing the Highland Clearances, describing those who left their homes from Scotland to North America as ‘migrants’. However, there is little to support Oliver said this himself.
Oliver succeeds Lord Lindsay, 16th Earl of Lindsay as president of the National Trust for Scotland.
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