The British Museum appears increasingly open to a “cultural partnership” with Athens regarding the Parthenon Marbles. “Anything is possible if there is political will,” emphasized actor and writer Sir Stephen Fry during his remarks at the Parthenon Project event held in Westminster. The event, coordinated by BBC arts editor Katie Razzall, featured prominent figures from both the UK and Greece in an open discussion on the reunification of the Marbles. Public sentiment is clearly aligned: 64% of Britons now support returning the Marbles to their homeland.
The discussion followed the announcement of an ambitious plan to "redefine" the British Museum, including a complete renovation and redesign of its western wing—where the Parthenon Marbles are currently housed. At the same time, internal deliberations continue over how the Museum’s collections should be presented to future generations.
“Anything is possible if there is political will”
Sir Stephen Fry stressed that Britain now has the chance to do “something elegant, something respectable, something for which the world will truly admire us.” He highlighted Australia as an example, referencing the Australian Constitution (Public Record Copy) Act 1990, which allowed the transfer of a copy of Australia’s Constitution—held in London—back to Australia. Despite existing laws that prohibited it, all it took was for a few MPs to coordinate and pass a new act.
Fry argued that a similar legislative route could pave the way for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.
“We gain nothing by saying no”
Lord David Frost, former Brexit chief negotiator, added that the time had come for the UK to stop resisting the idea of returning the Marbles:
“I don’t see what we’re gaining by continuing to say ‘no’... We get bogged down in details about whether it’s a loan, what the law says, how long it will last... It should just be a gift—free of prejudice.”
He acknowledged the issue remains divisive within Parliament, but emphasized that “public opinion is shifting.”
“The time has come”
Former Shadow Culture Secretary and member of the House of Lords Thangam Debbonaire echoed this sentiment:
“The time has come for reunification. Anyone who has visited the Acropolis Museum—as I had the honor of doing last year—will have seen those deeply moving empty spaces waiting for the return of their Marbles.”
“Restoring the integrity of a monument”
Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki, attending in her personal capacity and not as the wife of the Greek Prime Minister, described this as “the right moment,” pointing to a “win-win scenario” for both sides.
She expressed how moving it is to hear Britons speak about the Marbles with such empathy, calling reunification a “unique and exceptional case.”
“This is not about returning objects—it’s about restoring the historical and architectural integrity of a monument,” she said.
Grabowski-Mitsotaki also referred to ongoing negotiations between London and Athens, centered around a rotating loan of important Greek antiquities that have never before left the country.
Opposition remains
On the other hand, Lord Parkinson expressed openness to the idea of lending the Marbles, but not to their permanent return.
He emphasized that current law does not prevent the British Museum from loaning objects, something it already does with roughly 2,000 items annually.
A new cultural agreement on the horizon?
The Parthenon Project event unfolded in an atmosphere of growing optimism about a new cultural agreement between the British Museum and the Acropolis Museum. Beyond the return of the Marbles, such a partnership could also involve exhibiting rare Greek antiquities in London—such as the famed Mask of Agamemnon, which has never left Greece.
64% of Britons support the Marbles' return
Public opinion seems ready for change. According to a YouGov poll, 64% of Britons support returning the Parthenon Marbles—particularly if there is an exchange involving Greek museum artifacts. Furthermore, 77% are in favor of strengthening international cultural partnerships between museums.
Lord Ed Vaizey, former Culture Minister and co-chair of the Parthenon Project, called this a “significant opportunity for international collaboration, resource sharing, and the enrichment of collections.”
He noted:
“We have a unique chance to forge an equal partnership with one of our strongest European allies, enhancing cultural and educational opportunities for younger generations in both countries.”
“This cultural partnership,” he added, “would serve as a model of soft power and diplomacy—with mutual benefits for both Britain and Greece.”
