Fury as Sunak 'cancels meeting with Greek PM' as Elgin Marbles spat deepens

27 November 2023 , 12:56

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Greece has called for the marbles to be returned by the British Museum for generations (Image: PA)

Rishi Sunak has come under fire after cancelling a meeting with his Greek counterpart - as an ugly spat over returning the Elgin Marbles unfolds.

It is claimed a planned meeting between the PM and Kyriakos Mitsotakis became "impossible" after the Greek leader called for the priceless artefacts to be handed back. Mr Mitsotakis is understood to be "baffled, surprised and not a little bit annoyed" after the talks in Downing Street was cancelled.

The Greek PM said at the weekend that he would raise the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, with the PM, likening it to the Mona Lisa being cut in half. The 2,500 year old marbles were removed from Greece by diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis was stunned after the meeting was cancelled at the 11th hour (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A Tory source told the BBC: "It became impossible for this meeting to go ahead following commentary regarding the Elgin marbles prior to it. Our position is clear - the Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong here.

"It is reckless for any British politician to suggest that this is subject to negotiation." Labour said that if Mr Sunak had scrapped the talks because of the row it shows he "isn't able to provide the serious economic leadership our country requires".

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In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Mitsotakis said: "The prime minister is disappointed that Prime Minister Sunak cancelled their bilateral meeting at the 11th hour today. Greece and Britain have a very deep history of friendship and co-operation, and the Greek government is extremely surprised by this decision.

"The prime minister was looking forward to discussing a range of topics of mutual interest including the Israel/Gaza conflict, Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, climate change, as well as common challenges such as migration, and of course the Parthenon Sculptures." Mr Mitsotakis tweeted about his "dismay" that the meeting had been cancelled "just hours before it was due to take place".

Mr Mitsotakis is understood to have rejected a meeting with deputy PM Oliver Dowden.

A Labour spokeswoman said: "If the Prime Minister isn't able to meet with a European ally with whom Britain has important economic ties, this is further proof he isn't able to provide the serious economic leadership our country requires. Keir Starmer's Labour Party stands ready."

On Sunday, Greece's prime minister argued a return of the sculptures was about "reunification" of the monument. He told the BBC: "It is 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."

Asked about the prospect of a loan deal between Greece and the British Museum, the PM's spokesman said: “There are no plans to change our approach, we believe the museum is the right place for them. He has been fairly robust on his position”. They added: “We have cared for the marbles for generations and we want that to continue”

Downing Street also stressed there were "no plans" to change the 1963 British Museum Act that prevents the institution giving away objects from its collection except in very limited circumstances. Museum chairman George Osborne - the former Tory Chancellor - is exploring ways for the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece with speculation of a loan deal.

Asked where the Parthenon Sculptures should be, Mr Mitsotakis told BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme over the weekend: "I think the answer is very clear. They do look better in the Acropolis Museum, a state-of-the-art museum that was built for that purpose."

He went on: "This is not in my mind an ownership question, this is a reunification argument, where can you best appreciate what is essentially one monument? I mean, 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, do you think your viewers would appreciate the beauty of the painting in such a way?

"Well, this is exactly what happened with the Parthenon sculptures and that is why we keep lobbying for a deal that would essentially be a partnership between Greece and the British Museum but would allow us to return the sculptures to Greece and have people appreciate them in their original setting."

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The British Museum has said discussions with Greece over a "Parthenon Partnership are on-going and constructive". A spokesman added: "We believe that this kind of long term partnership would strike the right balance between sharing our greatest objects with audiences around the world, and maintaining the integrity of the incredible collection we hold at the museum."

Dave Burke