The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom does not intend to obstruct an agreement regarding the Parthenon sculptures, sources within the Greek government reported following a meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart. At the same time, Starmer's press secretary informed reporters that London’s stance on the invaluable marble has not changed and that this matter remains under the jurisdiction of the British Museum.
It is known that the meeting between Starmer and Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Downing Street lasted about 40 minutes, during which the parties primarily discussed support for Ukraine and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to information from the press service.
The fate of the Parthenon sculptures was not officially on the agenda, but sources indicate that Starmer made it clear to his guest that he would not stand in the way of a possible deal between Athens and the British Museum.
The marble sculptures of the Parthenon were removed from Athens by the diplomat and art enthusiast Lord Elgin in the 19th century and have been housed in the British Museum since then. This includes a 75-meter frieze, 15 marble panels with images, and 17 sculptures.
Athens has repeatedly stated that the removed treasures should be returned. The dispute over their fate previously led to a diplomatic scandal and the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Mitsotakis and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. In London, it is believed that the statues were acquired legally at the time. The British Museum is prohibited from returning the sculptures, but its management has discussed a compromise with Greece—such as a long-term loan.
Following today’s meeting at Downing Street, Conservatives criticized Starmer, accusing him of intentions to concede. According to a YouGov poll, 53% of British voters support the return of the sculptures to Greece, 24% are against it, and 23% responded "don’t know."