Britain does not plan to change the law on the Parthenon Marbles, but allows their loan to Greece

The government's position: the law will remain unchanged

The UK government does not intend to change the legislation that prevents the Parthenon sculptures from being permanently returned to Greece. Culture Minister Baroness Twycross made this statement during a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday, responding to pressure from several parliamentarians demanding the artefacts be handed over to Athens. 'The government has no plans to change the law or to introduce legislation allowing the permanent return of the Parthenon sculptures,' the Greek newspaper Ekathimerini quoted her as saying, as cited by the agency Anadolu.

Is a 'loan' possible instead of a return?

At the same time, Twycross expressed support for the ongoing negotiations between the British Museum and the Greek authorities on the potential loan of the sculptures. This format remains the only open path, since the British Museum Act of 1963 strictly limits the museum's ability to transfer ownership of items in its collection — meaning the legal obstacle concerns permanent return, not temporary display.

Dispute within the House of Lords

During the debate, the idea of a loan instead of a full return drew objections from a number of members of the House of Lords. Conservative peer Viscount Hailsham, in particular, warned that allowing the permanent return of the sculptures could set an 'undesirable precedent' for other collections in British museums.

Context of the dispute

The sculptures, known in the UK as the 'Elgin Marbles', were removed from the Acropolis of Athens in the early 19th century; Athens claims their removal was 'illegal'. The government's statement effectively confirms the preservation of the status quo: the question of ownership remains closed due to the 1963 law, and the negotiations between the two sides are focused on a possible compromise in the form of a long-term loan, the terms of which have not yet been announced.