Corbyn: I’d return the Elgin Marbles

JErEMy corbyn has said he would hand the ‘stolen’ Elgin Marbles back to Greece if Labour wins power.

the party leader said the sculptures, which have been housed in the British Museum for more than 200 years, ‘belong to Greece’.

the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, have been the subject of a bitter diplomatic dispute between Britain and Greece for decades. By law, decisions on their future rest with the British Museum. But Mr corbyn told the Leftwing Greek newspaper ta Nea that a future Labour government would push for them to be sent back to Greece.

he also suggested he would back requests from other countries for the return of their artefacts brought to the UK during Britain’s imperial past. Mr corbyn told ta Nea: ‘the Parthenon sculptures belong to Greece. they were made in Greece and had been there for many centuries until Lord Elgin took them. as with everything stolen or removed from a country ... we should begin constructive talks with the Greek government on the return of the sculptures.’

Former tory culture minister Ed Vaizey said: ‘if corbyn is saying a Labour government is going to ride roughshod over the independence of our museums, then what will be next?’