THE Friends of National Museums Liverpool was disbanded yesterday, with its outgoing chairman issuing a stinging criticism of NML director Dr David Fleming.

Andrew Pearce, chairman of the now disbanded Friends of NML (FNML), said some of NML’s exhibitions had become so dumbed down they were starting to resemble “Disneyland”.

He also claimed exhibitions were being used as an instrument of “social engineering”.

Mr Pearce highlighted the poor relationship between Dr Fleming and the 1,700-strong group as a key part of their decision to disband.

The former Conservative Euro- MP said that, in five years as chairman, he had never been invited for a cup of coffee with Dr Fleming, and the relationship had been “frosty and combative”.

Mr Pearce added: “The Friends’ relations with his predecessor were extremely close and cordial, which has never been the case with the present incumbent.”

A key dispute between the Friends and Dr Fleming is over the International Slavery Museum, opened in 2007, which they believe lacks balance in its portrayal of the slave trade and does not properly recognise Liverpool’s contribution to its abolition.

Last night, Dr Fleming hit back, saying: “We are not here to dance to the tune of a small group of people who are following their personal agendas.

“Unfortunately, our experience of the Friends committee members is that they did not honestly represent the views of their membership to NML or vice versa.

“Andrew Pearce's statement is predictably riddled with inaccuracies. In terminating our relationship with the former Friends, National Museums Liverpool (NML) acted in the best interests of the public at large.”

Mr Pearce called on the trust of NML to “examine its conscience” for the way the breakdown was handled. He also detailed the three main reasons why FNML believe the relationship with NML broke down.

The Friends did not believe “that museums are primarily part of an educational campaign, and certainly not that they should be an instrument of social engineering”.