British Conservatives Oppose Parthenon Marbles Return to Greece

A group of 34 prominent British conservatives, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, historian Dr. David Starkey, and Sir John Redwood, have signed a letter opposing the potential repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece.

The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Minister of Culture, and the British Museum’s trustees, accuses the museum of engaging in a “secret and intensifying campaign” to return the ancient artworks. It demands an immediate halt to any negotiations, threatening legal action if discussions proceed without transparency.

Revealed by Sky News, the letter claims the museum is conducting “covert negotiations” that undermine public trust. The signatories warn that some trustees may need to “reconsider their positions” and reserve the right to pursue legal measures, including injunctions, to protect the interests of the British public until full disclosure is provided.

The campaign is spearheaded by the Great British PAC, a right-leaning pressure group led by Conservative activist Claire Bullivant and former Reform Party deputy chairman Ben Habib.

The British Museum Act of 1963 prohibits the permanent disposal of key collection items, including the Parthenon Sculptures. A government spokesperson confirmed to Greek newspaper To Vima that there are no plans to amend this law, which also bars permanent or indefinite loans. “All decisions regarding the care, management, or potential loans of the museum’s collection rest solely with its trustees,” the spokesperson said, a stance consistently upheld by successive UK governments.

Tags: Parthenon Sculptures, Elgin Marbles, British Museum, repatriation, Greece, UK conservatives, Keir Starmer, legal action, transparency, British Museum Act

Excerpt: A group of 34 British conservatives, including Liz Truss and Dr. David Starkey, oppose the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece, accusing the British Museum of secret negotiations. They threaten legal action to halt discussions, citing the British Museum Act of 1963.

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Source: pagenews.gr