The National Trust has rejected criticism from Restore Trust after the pressure group failed to secure a ballot on the charity’s voting system at its annual general meeting. 

In 2022, the charity introduced a “quick vote” system for its elections, which allows members to back the charity’s recommendations for its council with a single proxy vote.

Restore Trust has opposed the system, partly because it has made it harder for its candidates to be elected to the charity’s council. 

At the National Trust’s AGM on Saturday, a resolution for a ballot on the quick vote system did not appear because a vote was already taken to reject the proposal last year.

A spokesperson for the National Trust said: “Quick vote is entirely optional. It is standard practice for balloting at large member organisations and members make an active choice whether to use it or not.

“Under our parliamentary scheme, resolutions can only be put to members if they haven't been proposed at any of the three previous AGMs.

“This is to allow reasonable opportunity for other National Trust members to propose resolutions on other matters that are important to them.”

Restore Trust was set up in 2021 for the ​​National Trust to “reclaim its mission” and change the charity’s direction away from “modish, divisive ideologies”.

The group said introducing the quick vote system had undermined confidence in the National Trust and its democracy.

“In 2024 those of us who are members of the National Trust had the opportunity to elect six members of the governing council as well as the 18 bodies which appoint the non-elected members,” Restore Trust said.

“The management of the National Trust offered us the easy option of voting for all their choices, regardless of whether we have studied the options, by simply ticking the ‘quick vote’ box.”

“Each year we ask members not to take the short cut, but take the time and carry out their responsibility thoroughly,” the group said.

“All of us who are members need to put in the effort to give this beloved charity the best possible leadership and expertise.”

Earlier this year, the National Trust said it would continue to take advice from “accountable, regulated institutions” when Restore Trust criticised its voting system.

Restore Trust is seeking the consent of National Trust members to hold a “definitive ballot” without the quick vote next year.

“By holding the ballot without the quick vote and instead asking members to cast their vote themselves, there will be no doubt about members’ views or the legitimacy of the decision,” the group said.