World news – GB – National Trust members accuse board of directors of a « wake-up agenda » at a stormy virtual general assembly meeting

A member owes the Trust to « defaming » Winston Churchill’s memory in deciding to link its property to colonialism and slavery

Members of the National Trust have accused the charity board of pursuing a « witch hunt in the lives of former property owners » and pursuing a « waking agenda »

One member denounced the fund for « defamation » of Winston Churchill’s memory in a recent report linking his property to colonialism and slavery, while another member said she was canceling her membership because the fund was now too « political »

The news came as 26 Conservative lawmakers wrote to the Telegraph on Monday, saying that « history should not be sterilized or rewritten to fit the » snowflake « preoccupations. A group of strong and distinguished liberals should not be allowed to rewrite our history in their own image. » Discussing the future of confidence in the House of Commons on Wednesday

The fund’s decision to publish a controversial 115-page report on the links between its property, slavery and colonialism in September was one of the main topics in the 1,000 questions presented by members at the virtual public meeting this weekend

The class dominated the first 20 minutes of the meeting as questions from angry members were read out by the secretary of the treasury, Paul Boniface, to the online meeting

One of the members, Diana of Leicester, asked, “Why is the fund spending so much money searching for slavery within homes, properties, and lands that are so generously gifted? The majority of members just want to see beautiful homes and gardens, and they have no others whose opinions have driven their throats.”

Another member, John of Wareham, said, “Why was the National Trust instigating a witch hunt in the lives of past property owners? Your members want to enjoy the gifted property in good faith without having to endure the unfortunate wake-up agenda of the Modern Trust.”

In the Trust’s report, Churchill’s residence in Chartwell, Kent, was highlighted, along with that of the exploiters and slave carpenter because he was a former colonial minister

One of the members, Sally of Windsor, accused the Trust of « defaming Churchill in connection with slavery, » adding: « Why would you do this with a great man who saved this country from defeat in WWII among many other great acts? »

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Carole from Boston asked the board: « Why doesn’t the fund focus on its maintenance and stop being political? History is history – you will lose members and waste money We are intent on ending our membership »

Sue of Bedford asked: “Why is the National Trust sponsoring the Awakened General? >

Hillary McGrady, general manager of the Trust, defended the research into slavery and trust, saying, “Most if our visitors just want to enjoy our property – and of course they do – but there will be people who want to know more and we should be able to respond to that as well. / p>

“This is really true on the Trust. It does not in any way mean to expose anyone who we strongly believe that the money has been well spent”

Regarding the reference to Churchill in the report, she added: « There was a connection – the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs was confident in the public’s ability to keep all this information and come to their own conclusion. We will not try to beat this to people. »

Tim Parker, chairman of the Trust, who has been criticized for describing « black lives matter » in a letter last month as a « human rights movement » said: « We are not members of the BLM if our mention of the Black Lives Matter is merely a reflection or our belief that no We should have a racist society, it’s nothing more or no less.

“I hope, with the passage of time, you will see that the Trust has in no way become a political organization that has been taken over by a group of Awakened Folk or anything like that.”

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National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, Tim Parker, Annual General Meeting, Board of Directors, Woke