The National Trust has been slammed for "abuse of power and a subversion of democracy" over changes it made to its voting system.
It has also been accused of "going in the wrong direction".
A report, named National Distrust: The End of Democracy in the National Trust, identified recent changes as areas of concern.
It comes after the charity was accused of disrespecting grassroots activists by making it harder to oppose its preferred policy direction.
During its annual general meeting, a "quick vote" system was used to approve its annual report and choice of trustees in one click.
The system was allegedly introduced in 2022 "without consultation".
Its former chairman, Sir William Proby said he had "been reluctant to criticise my successors" but added there were "serious flaws" in the way that the organisation was being run.
"The National Trust has always attracted controversy. This is because of its importance in our national life and the passion that so many people feel for what it does," Proby told the Telegraph.
"This is healthy and should be welcomed by the management and board of trustees. A truly democratic structure allows these issues to be debated, voted on, and the organisation can move on.
"Stifling dissent will only lead to a running sore of disaffected members outside the organisation, which inevitably will damage this great institution."
The report, by Zewditu Gebreyohanes - a senior researcher at the Legatum Institute think tank - calls for ministers to initiate legislation to "prohibit all anti-democratic measures" and for the Charity Commission to open an inquiry.
The trust has been accused of making the democratic process a "rubber-stamping exercise".
However, the Trust has denied the claim saying it needed to modernise to protect the nation’s heritage "for everyone, forever".
Has the National Trust gone woke? Have your say.
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The National Trust has been slammed for "abuse of power and a subversion of democracy" over changes it made to its voting system.
It has also been accused of "going in the wrong direction".
A report, named National Distrust: The End of Democracy in the National Trust, identified recent changes as areas of concern.
It comes after the charity was accused of disrespecting grassroots activists by making it harder to oppose its preferred policy direction.
During its annual general meeting, a "quick vote" system was used to approve its annual report and choice of trustees in one click.
The system was allegedly introduced in 2022 "without consultation".
Its former chairman, Sir William Proby said he had "been reluctant to criticise my successors" but added there were "serious flaws" in the way that the organisation was being run.
"The National Trust has always attracted controversy. This is because of its importance in our national life and the passion that so many people feel for what it does," Proby told the Telegraph.
"This is healthy and should be welcomed by the management and board of trustees. A truly democratic structure allows these issues to be debated, voted on, and the organisation can move on.
"Stifling dissent will only lead to a running sore of disaffected members outside the organisation, which inevitably will damage this great institution."
The report, by Zewditu Gebreyohanes - a senior researcher at the Legatum Institute think tank - calls for ministers to initiate legislation to "prohibit all anti-democratic measures" and for the Charity Commission to open an inquiry.
The trust has been accused of making the democratic process a "rubber-stamping exercise".
However, the Trust has denied the claim saying it needed to modernise to protect the nation’s heritage "for everyone, forever".
Has the National Trust gone woke? Have your say.
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