NEIL Oliver has surely put paid to any lingering doubts over his suitability or unsuitability to act as the public face of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). By appearing to support the xenophobic and racist views of the self-appointed imperialist historian David Starkey,
Mr Oliver has made himself utterly unfit to represent any national body that purports to portray Scotland and its people.
READ MORE: NTS defends Oliver after he gives support to slavery row historian
A 21st-century Scotland strives to be an inclusive, open and multicultural society and it is clear individuals like Neil Oliver have no positive role to play. His apparent criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement and his regressive views on maintaining monuments to historical figures involved in human rights abuses openly display Mr Oliver’s right-wing Unionist leanings.
All of my family have cancelled NTS membership in the wake of his comments and urge the Trust to appoint a more cerebral and caring public figure. Mr Oliver’s talents are undoubtedly minimal and the NTS can surely do better than a Z-list celebrity to represent Scotland’s interests and values.
Owen Kelly
Stirling
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