Corbyn says he would return Elgin Marbles to Greece

JEREMY CORBYN would order the British Museum to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece if elected prime minister, opening the door to dozens of historical artefacts potentially being repatriated under a Labour government.

The Labour leader has claimed that the Parthenon sculptures “belong to Greece” and that on entering Downing Street he would begin “constructive talks” with its government to begin the process of their return.

In an interview with Ta Nea, the Greek paper, Mr Corbyn said that the marbles had been made in Athens and had adorned the Parthenon for “hundreds of years” before being brought to Britain in the early 19th century.

He added: “As with everything stolen or removed from a country that was in [our] possession or a colony – including objects looted from other countries in the past – we should also begin constructive talks with the Greek govern- ment on the return of the sculptures.”

Mr Corbyn has previously campaigned for the marbles to be returned to Greece as a backbench MP.

The sculptures were brought to the UK by Lord Elgin, the Scottish nobleman. Originally housed in the Parthenon, built nearly 2,500 years ago, the sculptures were removed with the permission of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece.

The temple had fallen into ruin and the marbles risked being irreparably damaged, so half were brought to Britain while the remaining artefacts stayed in Athens, where they are now in the Acropolis Museum.

Last night a government source said: “We don’t share the anti-historic views that Mr Corbyn and others have on the Left, which is that you should disavow yourself of everything that has happened in your country’s history, whether you were responsible for it or not.”