Window opens for Parthenon Sculptures’ return

The indications that the Greek government has been receiving over the past few days regarding the potential to borrow the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum confirm the improvement Athens had anticipated on the matter following the establishment of Keir Starmer's Labour government in London.

Chris Bryant, minister of state for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, delivered the message in response to a written question in Parliament. Bryant stated that the British Museum's management was responsible for deciding whether or not to lend the statues, while also mentioning the "constructive cooperation" that George Osborne, the head of the museum, had with the Greek government.

As The Times of London points out in a related article, this response represents a clear change of tone from the previous Conservative government. The "pause" phase which the...