Heritage quango, which looks after historic sites such as Dumbarton Castle, has been embroiled in numerous scandals

It is the latest sorry chapter for the conservation body, which may face major changes thanks to John Swinney’s vow to reform all quangos. There have been growing concerns that the Scottish Government has lost control of the organisation charged with looking after Scotland’s most precious properties.

But her return to work didn’t last long as she has now left her job, with HES failing to deny that she had been fired when asked by the Scottish Daily Express. In July, the newly appointed chairman Sir Mark Jones also resigned with immediate effect amid reports of a toxic workplace culture.

Stirling Castle which is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland.

Angus Robertson failed to get on top of these scandals when he was Culture Secretary, with Mairi McAllan now tasked to oversee the poisonous organisation. HES is given £74m a year by the Scottish Government to look after more than 300 of the country’s most important historic buildings and sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Skara Brae on Orkney.

The body’s operations director, Craig Mearns, had faced disciplinary measures after making a racist comment about visitors at Edinburgh Castle but was allowed to keep his job.

A HES senior leader was also sanctioned over claims she danced provocatively by “twerking” at a corporate event at Edinburgh Castle in 2023.

The senior manager was said to have made celebrity guests Martin Compston and Penny Lancaster “uncomfortable”.

A HES source told the Scottish Daily Express in an email: “The disgraced ceo told the Scotsman and Herald she was resigning. She lied – she was sacked…We have lost two chairs, numerous staff and all because Scottish Government backed her – the staff now want an inquiry into what went on here…

“We now have a chief operating officer that must be earning in the region of £130k, and three new directors are to be recruited at around £140k. All of this is down to her, the Scottish Government and Angus Robertson – they need to be held to account. Meanwhile staff on the ground are underpaid and undervalued.”

Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, who represents Stirling, which also has a famous castle, also slated HES on social media, writing on X: “Under the SNP, Historic Environment Scotland is in turmoil again. Its Chief Executive has gone. Ministers were caught on the back foot. And this is a public body entrusted with protecting some of Scotland’s most important national assets.

Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr, who represents Stirling

“Taxpayers deserve answers. Why has Katerina Brown left? What will it cost? Why did ministers apparently not know? And who is actually running HES now? The SNP cannot keep presiding over dysfunction in major public bodies and pretending it is someone else’s problem.”

A HES spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that Katerina Brown is leaving Historic Environment Scotland (HES). The Chair and Board of HES have asked Stephen Uphill to act as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr Uphill, currently Chief Operating Officer, will, subject to Scottish Government agreement, undertake the role on an interim basis until the Board appoints a permanent Chief Executive.

“HES remains fully operational and focused on delivering its responsibilities, with appropriate leadership, governance and business continuity arrangements in place.”