In November 2023, a diplomatic squabble has erupted over ancient sculptures between the UK and Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was scheduled to meet the Greek leader, but cancelled after learning that Mitsotakis intended to seek the return of the Parthenon sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from the British Museum to Athens. The Elgin Marbles are sculptures from the Parthenon temple in Athens, which were removed by Lord Elgin in the nineteenth century and later sold to the British Museum.
Sunak’s cancellation came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met with the Greek Prime Minister on Monday. The opposition leader’s meeting with a foreign leader prompted anger from the UK government, and meetings like this are likely to continue as Labour consistently leads in the opinion polls. Starmer would not oppose a temporary loan of the sculptures to Greece if agreed by the British Museum and Athens, while the Conservatives oppose this proposal, fearing the sculptures would never be returned.
Despite the various geopolitical issues shared between the two nations, Mitsotakis’ call for the return of ancient sculptures add an unexpected dimension to Sunak’s diplomatic visit. The Greek Prime Minister is said to be baffled and annoyed at being stood up, and called Sunak a “coward” in front of reporters. Mitsotakis received an offer from Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden to meet instead, but instead chose to cut his trip short and return home.
The diplomatic row highlights a domestic political divide in the UK between the Labour and Conservative parties on the Elgin Marbles’ fate. While a temporary loan deal doesn’t require a change in the law and could be several months away from agreement, the two rival British parties disagree fundamentally over the sculptures’ return to Athens
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