NATIONAL Trust for Scotland president Neil Oliver has provoked a hostile reaction to himself and the Trust after one of his tweets seemed to back Dominic Cummings.

The historian, broadcaster and writer tweeted on his @coastguy account: “The metropolitan press pack and politicians of all flavours have together created a spectacle as irrelevant to most people’s lives and as debasing as watching rats cannibalise each other in a pit.”

Pre-empting Cummings’s own “blame the media” stance at his press conference yesterday, arch-Unionist Oliver later maintained on Twitter: “It’s not about people now. It’s about politics and journalists.”

Critics on his Twitter account had blasted him for his views and queried his NTS presidency. Morag wrote: “No it’s more about us – people – and what we’ve been doing for each other and the NHS for past 8 weeks. It’s absolutely nothing to do with politics and media. No wonder the NTS is going down the pan.”

Kay Groom wrote: “It’s always been about people you pretentious popinjay. Is this because permission was given to the National Trust to re-open in England or is it just your unerring gift for being on the wrong side of a debate?”

Another person wrote: “Well if you dismiss Twitter – have you seen the Daily Mail? Government scientists saying he’s just blown the track and trace strategy out the water? His neighbours? Many real people are very pissed off.”

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John Lamont tweeted: “I would suggest you are wrong thinking this is irrelevant to ordinary folks. Many have exercised the highest restraint at moments of greatest sacrifice to them and their families. It matters.”

Oliver later tweeted a picture of journalists outside Cummings’s house and wrote: “Anyone happy about mob behaviour directed at anyone should just block or mute me now and be done with it.”

Kenny Burns replied: “Unfollowed so I don’t have to read your Unionist dirge any more.”

There is discontent among the NTS membership over Oliver, particularly as the largest conservation, historical and cultural charity in Scotland is facing an existential crisis due to massive losses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National has learned, however, that there has been no upsurge in resignations since Oliver’s tweet appeared. It is also unlikely that Oliver will be involved in the forthcoming meetings over the future of the NTS and the tourism recovery body being set up by the Scottish Government.

NTS sources also pointed out that Oliver’s position as president – given to him by its trustees in September 2017 – is not the same as that of an employee.

The Trust’s website states: “The Trust’s president is an ambassador for our charity and helps us to tell people about the important work we do to protect the special places in our care and share and celebrate Scotland’s amazing history and spectacular scenery. The president supports our fundraising and engagement activities and generally spreads the word about all we do.

“This is a voluntary, unpaid role. The president is not a trustee and does not attend board meetings.”

A spokesman for NTS said that Oliver was entitled to express his opinion and that he had done so in a personal capacity and not in his capacity as NTS president.