This is the stark message from the Common Sense group of Tory MPs. Led by former minister Sir John Hayes, they have written to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden in the wake of a report carried out by the Trust which links more than 100 properties with slavery and colonial history. Among those identified was Churchill’s home, Chartwell in Kent, because of his opposition to independence for India.
The document was produced on the back of recent attempts to pull down statues as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
And Tarnya Cooper, the Trust’s curatorial and collections director, warned that the report was just the beginning of work to understand the links with colonialism.
She said the Trust wanted to begin to “integrate that into our narrative – to raise awareness about the complexity of history in relation to place”.
She added: “In the past we’ve told really straightforward stories, possibly from one particular direction.
“We want to be able to tell more nuanced stories so we can provide open, honest, accurate and fair assessments of places without feeling anxiety. In some ways the report is to provide greater confidence about talking about history.”
But the Tory MPs fear the National Trust has abandoned its role of protecting British heritage and adopted a “politically correct” agenda instead.
In a statement they said: “From its inception, the National Trust has played an important part in protecting our nation’s heritage, enjoying widespread support in this endeavour. Over 125 years since its foundation, the Trust’s work has been of immense value.
“So, it is with sadness that patriots now witness its decline into politically correct prejudice.
“This is exemplified by the decision by the Trust’s ruling clique to link a number of properties to slavery and colonialism. “This includes Chartwell, the family home of one of Britain’s greatest sons, Winston Churchill.
“Leaving aside the crass assumption that the entirety of Britain’s colonial past is linked to slavery, the offence caused by tarnishing the reputation of our wartime hero must and will not go unchallenged.
“We have therefore written to the Culture Secretary requesting he review all outstanding funding applications submitted by the National Trust until they have publicly apologised for smearing the good name of our nation’s heroes and the offence they’ve caused to patriotic Britons, including numerous trust members.”
Sir John added: “For 125 years, the National Trust has played an important part in protecting our nation’s heritage.
“But a tiny, unrepresentative clique have infiltrated… scuppering in just a few years the age-old sacrifice of those who stood on the shoulders of giants.”
