My views about the proper home for the Parthenon marbles began at an early age. By the age of 16, most of our class had joined the Labour Party, partly because we were studying the emergence of democracy in 5^th century Athens. At the time Britain was engaged in decolonisation, first of India and then, eventually, of the rest of its empire. The British Empire was coming to an end. Towards the end of the second world war, a suggestion was made in parliament that the Parthenon marbles be sent back to Greece as an act of gratitude for the courage and sacrifices of the Greeks in defence of democracy. The idea was rejected at the time because there were more important issues to tackle. It then took years of civil war and military dictatorship in Greece to produce a politician – in Melina Mercouri - who understood, like Pericles, that a vibrant democracy cannot flourish without live evidence of its history and cultural heritage. The return of the Parthenon marbles would strengthen Greek democracy.

Unfortunately today a welter of linguistic hypocrisy has infected the powerful museums of the world who warn against ‘floodgates’ in museum returns looted objects to their country of origin, talk as though they ‘own’ the world’s heritage rebrand themselves as ‘universal’ and ‘encyclopaedic’ - as if the imperial thefts of the past are essential for ordinary citizens in former imperial nations to comprehend the cultural history of the world. This hypocrisy has a British long pedigree. Our 18^th and 19^th century imperial ancestors, force-fed at school, as I once was, with idealised portraits of ancient Athens, convinced themselves that they, the British, had become authentic ‘Greeks’ and that modern Greeks ones had degenerated into barbarians.

This tide is now turning, as imperial arrogance wanes and global justice is taken more seriously. Museums with collections of aboriginal human remains – collected in the 19^th century in the hope by these bones would prove the aboriginals were some inferior Darwinian species – are now being sent back to their country of origin in recognition of their sacred status. It will take a little longer for sacred stones to follow these sacred bones, but the signs are hopeful. Both UNESCO and the EU are encouraging the mobility of cultural objects. Opinion polls in Britain constantly reveal a large majority for returning the marbles to the newly opened Acropolis Museum in Athens with direct views to the Acropolis where they were created. They also show that nearly 90% of those questioned believe that the marbles will go home one day. Their return will take time and careful diplomatic negotiation between governments and museums. So, I tell my grandchildren that I am certain they will go back in their lifetime.

Christopher Price is a former British Member of Parliament and university vice chancellor. He is deputy chairman of the British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles.

As the British Museum looks to reimaging itself as a 'lending library', what is to be the next chapter for the Parthenon Marbles?

Museums as 'lending libraries' is not a bad idea as cultural mobility will ensure that artefacts are seen by those that cannot travel (so long as the countries whose artefacts are being lent are happy for them to travel around the globe). With an estimated 70–80% of the world's population not travelling outside their home country, this would make museum's cultural artefacts accessible by billions. Will this help the British Museum become more universal? Probably. 

On the flip side listening to Zeynep Boz talking about the UK and the BM's claim that the Parthenon Marbles were 'legally acquired by the laws of the time', one asks if it isn't time to recognise Greece's ask as one that is wholly justified. There is no bill of sale from the Ottomans and Elgin's acquisition remains not questionable but debunked.

Is it time to amend the Museums Act, UK House of Coomons, House of Lords, DCMS? Is it time to recognise that Greece has not been asking for anything more and that they are not wanting to denude any Western Museum, not least the British Museum.

The importance of the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles remains key to the holistic understanding of the Parthenon, a unique building which has withstood millennia of history and still stands, crowning the Acropolis, Athens' Sacred Hill. As great symbols of global cultural heritage, should independent Greece not be given the opportunity of showcase this peerless collection of sculptures in the superlative Acropolis Museum? Should the sculptures be deemed fit to travel far and wide, should Greece not be the nation that makes that decision about where they go? Is this about twenty-first cultural co-operation, power sharing when it comes to cultural artefacts whose significance matters globally or is this about a new form of cultural superiority for one nation over another?

As we look to a fairer society in an ever shrinking globe with a rising population, what is the best way to view and understand the cultures of other nations and why will that help promote greater empathy and understanding globally.

All BCRPM members would add that return and restitution cases deserve consideration 'on a case by case basis'.

The British Museum states that it cannot 'give Greece the Parthenon Marbles' back, it can only lend them, as the new Director, Dr Nicholas Cullinan also confirms in today's Independent article. These sculptures were forcibly removed when Greece had no voice and now Türkiye has added her voice to the reunification by emphasising the lack of official permission in the early 19th century by then Ottoman rulers for these sculptures to be removed.

It is up to this new UK Government under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, supported by Lisa Nandy as Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport to consider the possibility of doing the right thing and amending the Museum Act? Such an amendment would allow these sculptures to begin their newest chapter. They could be reunited, respectfully with their surviving halves, in the Acropolis Museum, with views to the Parthenon. 

We continue to hope, especially as we are reminded the Labour Party as the governing party of the United Kingdom, having won the July 2024 general election, is currently the largest political party by number of votes cast and number of seats in the House of Commons. Plus their mission statement would and could apply to finding a lasting solution to the plight of the divided Parthenon

Marbles too:

Opening of the ancient city beneath the Acropolis Museum, the inauguration of the "Excavated Museum" by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

This inauguration took place on Tuesday 25 June 2024 by the southern outskirts of the Museum's excavation site, the ancient city beneath the Acropolis Museum. It is here that an innovative environment has been created showcasing 1,150 objects, out of the thousands left behind by those that inhabited the area for more than 4,500 years.

The "Excavated Museum" is open to the public from Wednesday, 26 June 2024. The implementation of this new exhibition space was carried out with the support of the Bank of Greece.

“Over the past 15 years, it has become abundantly clear that the British Museum’s argument no longer holds,” Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni is quoted as saying in iefimerida. “The seamless integration of the Acropolis Museum with the rock and monuments of the Acropolis, its harmonious coexistence with both ancient and modern elements, and its role as an ideal setting for showcasing the masterpieces all contribute to its suitability for hosting the entirety of the Parthenon Sculptures that survive today.”

You can also read the speeches made by: Minister Lina Mendoni, the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Yiannis Stournaras and Director of the Acropolis Museum, Professor Stambolidis.

Photo credit: Studio Panoulis

A BCRPM letter was delivered to Nicholas Cullinan, the British Museum's new Director on 15 June by BCRPM campaigners and friends. The choice of the 15th was significant as this June, the Acropolis Museum celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Alexandros and David were inspired to cover the remonstration at the British Museum as this cause is very close to both their hearts, and  they were with us also in 2022. We look forward to their continued involvement with the movement going forward.

Below a link to the video that Alexandros and David artfully put together. It features interviews with Dame Janet Suzman and Victoria Hislop and a narrative of the events by Alexandros.  

"This campaign is contingent on public awareness, which in turn is raised through high-profile endorsements and large amounts of content being created on the topic. With this in mind, David and I are very excited to also submit a review on the current debate surrounding the campaign to reunify the Parthenon Marbles." wrote Alexandros post the 15th of June.

Watch: Talking Parthenon Marbles with Dame Janet Suzman and Victoria Hislop.

Alexandros Lees: Alexandros is a British-Greek lawyer who first studied the Parthenon Marbles during his Law degree at the London School of Economics. Alexandros’ Greek heritage, legal training, and interest in cultural property give him a unique passion for repatriation.

David Pinto: David Pinto is a Franco-American journalist, documentarian, and presidential campaign aide. A recent alum of Brown University, he earned a double bachelors degree in History and Film Studies. As a specialist in both international affairs and ancient history, David uses filmmaking to cover cultural property disputes.

Next steps: Alexandros and David are currently writing a thinkpiece on the prospects of repatriation, focussing on the effects of a Labour Government, increasing international support for repatriation, and growing public awareness of the cause. The article will feature interviews with prominent figures involved in the debate.

The UK General Election will take place on 4 July 2024 and whichever party you decide to vote for, we'd like to ask you to consider writing to your constituency MP.

BCRPM has been campaigning for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles since 1983 and if you wish to add your voice to the plight of the divided Parthenon Marbles/Sculptures we would be grateful.

We've drafted a letter which you can use as a template. Feel free to add anything that you also feel might make your MP understand that amending the Museum Act to allow these sculptures to be reunited with their other halves in the Acropolis Museum would make a great difference.

To download the letter, click the link here.

We thank you.