in-cyprus 7 June 2025
The Parthenon Marbles appear to be on a course for return to Greece, as British Museum Chairman, George Osborne, has reportedly agreed to hand them over.
According to an exclusive publication by the British magazine The Critic (it remains to be seen whether this will be officially confirmed by the British government), this move is unlikely to be blocked by the British government, as Keir Starmer has repeatedly expressed his commitment not to impede an agreement between the Greek government and the British Museum.
However, as the British publication states, for the Marbles to be permanently ceded to Athens, the government must amend the British Museum Act of 1963, which prohibits the disposal of exhibits.
Nevertheless, Osborne’s plan to cede them as a “loan” is believed to bypass this requirement. Given that the Greek government claims legal ownership of the sculptures, it is highly unlikely that they will ever return to Britain.
Legislation and “Moral Obligation”
According to legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2022, the path has been opened to bypass the 1963 act. The Charities Act allowed museums to part with objects if there was a “moral obligation” to do so, offering an alternative route for transfer in case the legality of a non-returning loan is challenged.
“The sculptures were legally acquired by Lord Elgin from the Ottomans in 1801, purchased by Britain in 1816, and now, it seems, are being handed over to the Greek government at no cost. What political capital! Perhaps they were just too big to fit in a bag,” the British publication characteristically remarks.
British Museum’s Response
The British Museum told The Critic that its position remains unchanged, with a spokesperson stating:
“Discussions with Greece for a Partnership on the Parthenon Marbles are ongoing and constructive. We believe that this type of long-term partnership will strike the right balance between sharing our greatest objects with audiences worldwide and maintaining the integrity of the astonishing collection we house in the museum.”
