Scotland’s national heritage body has been accused of anti-SNP bias after ordering a tenant to remove a banner supporting the party from outside her home.
SNP member Christine Claydon rents her Dunkeld property from the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which was gifted to them by the Duke of Atholl.
She had displayed a “Vote SNP” banner outside her A-listed home but was told to take it down after the NTS decided she was in violation of her tenancy agreement.
The move has been greeted poorly on social media, with some people claiming they will cancel their membership in light of the move.
Twitter user Mike Bell wrote: “I’ve cancelled my National Trust for Scotland membership as they are instructing SNP supporting tenants to remove SNP posters.
“Why should any tenant be banned from participating in democracy regardless of party?”
While Magnus Barelegs added: “Absolutely outrageous. They have no right to ask that of ANY party supporters, surely?”
Ms Claydon said that Perth and Kinross Council tenants in properties across the street had no such restrictions.
She said: “The Trust was gifted one side of the street at the same time as the council was gifted the other.
“So you have a situation where tenants across the road are free to display banners if they so wish.”
The National Trust for Scotland said the ban was in place for all banners, not just political ones.
A spokesman said: “Putting aside the fact that the A-listed building was in conservation area, this action was in breach of the tenancy agreement. All banners and signage, be they political or commercial, are not permitted under the terms of the tenancy.
“Additionally, the National Trust for Scotland is a politically neutral charity — our code of conduct does not permit us to endorse or support any political party and therefore we do not permit political slogans or signs to be displayed on any of the historic buildings in our care.
“If the unauthorised banner in Dunkeld had represented any other political party, we would have taken exactly the same action. End of story.”
Perth and Kinross Council confirmed they have no specific policy against banners.
A spokeswoman said: “Under the terms of the Scottish secure tenancy agreement, which all local authority tenants are required to sign, there is no provision preventing tenants from displaying posters or banners within windows of their home as long as this is not considered a criminal offence under other relevant legislation.
“In certain circumstances however if there was evidence to suggest that posters were causing anti-social behaviour or a nuisance to neighbours a tenant may be asked to remove the poster or adopt an alternative approach.”
