Overview

• Thirty-four signatories including Liz Truss and Dr David Starkey demand an end to any Marbles return talks or face legal challenges.
• Right-wing group Great British PAC led by Claire Bullivant and Ben Habib organised the letter sent to Sir Keir Starmer, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and museum trustees.
• The British Museum Act 1963 bars permanent transfers of the Parthenon sculptures and the UK government says it will not amend the law.
• A British Museum spokesperson describes the Parthenon Partnership discussions with Athens as ongoing and constructive but confirms no deal has been reached.
• Formal talks on a cultural partnership have been under way since 2021 and last year Greece’s foreign minister said a return agreement was 'relatively close.'