GEIS-新闻详情

Rishi Sunak to reject Greek leader’s appeal for return of Elgin Marbles

2023-12-01 00:00:00.0 独立报-英国政治原网页

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

Please enter a valid email address

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email

{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak will reject pleas to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece when he meets the country’s prime minister this week, Downing Street has indicated.

No 10 has insisted that saying the British Museum was the “right place” for the treasures ahead of talks.

Athens has long demanded the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said he will raise the issue during meetings with both Mr Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to London.

But Downing Street pushed back against the Greek leader’s likening of the British Museum’s possession of the sculptures to the Mona Lisa painting being “cut in half”.

Mr Sunak’s spokesman stressed the PM’s support for the law that prevents the marbles from being permanently returned, and suggested he would not be in favour of any loan arrangement.

Recommended Tory minister Kemi Badenoch pushes Sunak for ‘much, much tougher’ immigration measures Sadiq Khan: UK could’ve avoided second lockdown if Boris Johnson had listened to me Michael Gove admits housing crisis is even worse than you think

British Museum chairman George Osborne, the former chancellor, has previously said he is exploring ways for the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece – with speculation that this could involve a loan deal in which part of the sculptures would be sent to Athens.

Promoted stories

Mighty Scoops

Courteney Cox, 59, Takes off Makeup, Leaves Us With No WordsMighty Scoops

Undo

by Taboola by Taboola

Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

Promoted Links Promoted Links

Asked about such an agreement, Mr Sunak’s spokesman told reporters: “We have no plans to change our approach and certainly we think that the museum is the right place for them.

“I haven’t asked him specifically about short-term or new ideas that have been put forward, but I think he’s been fairly robust on his position.”

The No 10 official also said the government had “no plans” to change the 1963 British Museum Act which prohibits the removal of objects from the institution’s collection.

“We have cared for the marbles for generations and our position is we want that to continue. The world comes to the UK regularly to see the marbles and there are no plans to change that or to change the law,” he said.

Sir Keir has indicated he will tell Mr Mitsotakis that a Labour government would not change the law – but that he would not stand in the way of a loan deal that was mutually acceptable to the British Museum and the Greek government.

Greece’s prime minister on Sunday argued a return was about “reunification” of the monument, saying: “It’s as if I told you that you would cut the Mona Lisa in half, and you will have half of it at the Louvre and half of it at the British Museum.”

RECOMMENDED

Piers Morgan doubles down after naming ‘racist royals’ identified in Scobie’s Endgame

Undo

How did the UK become one of the most unsafe places in Europe to have a baby?

Undo

TopCarsMagazine

Mom Sets Up Camera, Sees Why 6 Babysitters QuitTopCarsMagazine| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

Foodeliciouz

Living in Hong Kong? These Are the Richest and Poorest Countries in Europe 2019Foodeliciouz| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

Asked if Mr Sunak recognised that characterisation, his spokesman said: “Obviously it’s not something we would agree with.

“These were legally acquired at the time, they’re legally owned by the trustees of the museum. We support that position and there’s no plan to change the law which governs it.”

More about Rishi Sunak Elgin Marbles Labour keir starmer

Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

1/ 1Sunak to reject Greek leader’s appeal for return of Elgin Marbles

Sunak to reject Greek leader’s appeal for return of Elgin Marbles Athens has long demanded the return of the Parthenon Sculptures (Matthew Fearn/PA)

PA Archive

Promoted stories

Combat Siege

If you own a mouse, you will never turn off your computer again.No Install. Play for free.Combat Siege| Sponsored Sponsored

Play Now

Undo

DailyChoices

Nearly 60, Pitt Confesses "She Was Always the One"DailyChoices| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

investing.com

Greta Thunberg's Car Shocks The World, Proof In Picturesinvesting.com| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

热门话题

在万宁引起很大反响！用「小黑丸」就能简单让40多岁女性体型有惊人的变化！热门话题| Sponsored Sponsored

了解更多

Undo

Beauty Institute

万宁火爆狂销中，40多岁的她只涂上「它」就跟斑点分手了Beauty Institute| Sponsored Sponsored

了解更多

Undo

healthnfits.com

Man Thought He Found A Puppy In The Forest - Then Vet Calls The Policehealthnfits.com| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

HotPopToday

Pawn Star Pleads Guilty, Goodbye Pawn StarsFans were surprised to hear this about their favorite pawn star...HotPopToday| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

房屋清洁|搜寻广告

2023 年房屋清洁优惠（查看价格）你可能会感到惊讶房屋清洁|搜寻广告| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo

news Mother’s horror as her two children die using scuba tanks in friend’s swimming pool

Undo

news Ukraine war live: Russia sees record losses as baby amongst injured in missile strike

Undo

news Hamas says 10-month-old hostage killed along with his brother and mother

Undo

Promoted by the Independent

Give the gift of an unbeatable break with TUI’s Black Friday DealsSponsored FeaturePromoted by the Independent| Sponsored Sponsored

Undo