George Osborne is negotiating a 'reciprocal long-term' loan deal that will send the Elgin Marbles back to Greece

Daily Mail​

12 hours ago

George Osborne is negotiating a 'reciprocal loan deal' that would send the Elgin Marbles back to Greece.
The former chancellor, now the chairman of the British Museum, is understood to be discussions with Greek government over a deal that would return the marbles to Athens on a long-term basis.
As part of the deal, Athens would provide the museum with ancient Greek artefacts, many of which have never been shown in the UK.
Importantly, the British Museum would not give up its legal ownership of the sculptures, which would require a change in the law.
The deal is to hoped to come into effect later this decade when the British Museum closes for refurbishment as part of the upcoming redevelopment of the Bloomsbury site in London.
Sources, however, have told the Times that no deal has been finalised and an announcement is not expected in the near future..
The marbles, also known as The Parthenon Sculptures, are a series of Ancient Greek sculptures created between 447BC and 432BC by Greek architect Phidias.
After standing for 2,000 years, the Acropolis was for the most part destroyed as the Ottoman Empire - who at the time ruled Greece - became embroiled in a war with Venice.
The remaining sculptures were removed from the ruins of the Parthenon by Lord Elgin, then British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and brought to Britain between 1802 and 1812.
In 1816, the marbles were handed over to the care of the British Museum, where they have remained ever since.
Talks between the British Museum and Greece over the return of the Elgin marbles have been ongoing since 2021.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said that the 'care and management' of the sculptures was a matter for the British Museum and a long-term loan deal would not need explicit government approval.
It has been claimed that, while Labour won't change a law that stops the British Museum permanently handing back the artefacts, Sir Keir would allow the 'loan' of some of the carvings to Athens.
The fifth-century BC Parthenon sculptures were moved from Athens between 1801 to 1812 by the Earl of Elgin, when it was still part of the Ottoman Empire.
The empire was crumbling at the time, with Greece securing independence in the following decades.
The peer, who was the British ambassador, planned to set up a private museum before transferring them to the British Museum.
Greece insists the artefacts were obtained illegally by Lord Elgin, but the UK is adamant that Lord Elgin had the permission of the Ottoman authorities.
A 1963 law prevents the British Museum from permanently disposing of key items from its collection, although it would not stop a loan deal.
It has been reported by the Critic magazine that Osborne has already agreed to give the Elgin Marbles to Greece as part of a permanent loan deal.
Since the greek government still claims legal ownership of the sculptures, it was 'extremely unlikely that they would ever return to Britain', the report added.
In responde, the museum said that talks has not advances sinc late last year when the PM hosted Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis at No10.
A No 10 spokesman said also denied reports of an imminent deal.
'It remains the case that decisions relating to the management of the Parthenon sculptures are a matter for the trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally independent of the government,' the spokesman said.
'We have no plans to change the law that would allow the permanent loan of the Elgin Marbles.'
When asked about the deal, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she had 'never been someone who thought we should send the Elgin Marbles back'.
A Greek official involved in the talks said the deal would need to see the marbles being transferred for an 'extended period; not 50 or 100 years, nor one or two years'.