Greece has claimed progress has been made in negotiations to return the Elgin Marbles to Athens ahead of a crunch meeting its Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street.
A Greek government official said, according to The Times: “Progress for the return of the Parthenon marbles has been made by the two sides and that is why Mitsotakis is meeting today with the British prime minister.
“Nothing is in hiding. Nothing is hidden.”
Despite these comments, No 10 has insisted the future of the marbles is not on Sir Keir’s agenda, who is more focused on talking about support for Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Downing Street said: “Our position on the Elgin Marbles has not changed.
“It remains a matter for the British Museum, and the government has no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move of the Parthenon sculptures.”
Now the Conservatives have made their feelings clear on the matter, with Saqib Bhatti MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport saying: “Sir Keir Starmer has already capitulated over the Chagos Islands, and now it appears he is set to cave in to the radical left and return the Elgin Marbles to Greece.
“The British Museum has cared for these precious artefacts for generations and given people from around the globe the chance to learn about their tremendous story.
“The marbles are protected by an act of Parliament – the PM needs to be clear that he will not allow the law to be changed and block any legal work around that might be devised to allow them to be taken out of this country
“The Prime Minister should be standing up for Britain, our heritage, and our world-class cultural institutions instead of giving in to pressure from campaigners who detest British history.”
The marbles may potentially undego a loan deal as part of a wider cultural partnership between the two countries.
George Osborne, the museum’s chairman, will lead any deal which may be decided upon.
Due to refurbishments which are due to take place in the next few years, this could provide an opportunity for the marbles to be returned to Athens – but it may not be on a permanent basis.
One contention point is that the deal would need the Greek government to accept British ownership of the marbles.
Mitsotakis has made the return of the marbles to Greece a key priority of his government. The Greek foreign minister said in September that he believed a deal was “relatively close”.
In 1816, The British Museum first exhibited the marbles after they were aquired by Lord Elgin, Britain’s ambassador to the Ottoman empire.
Elgin had ordered them to be removed from the Acropolis, a decision which remains highly contentious even until today.
