Secret discussions have taken place between George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, and Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the contested sculptures.

George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, confirmed it is looking at a deal that would see some of the sculptures returned to Athens in exchange for Greek treasures being displayed in London

Sir Keir Starmer is more likely than Rishi Sunak to agree to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, George Osborne has suggested. The chairman of the British Museum said that the institution was “still some distance” from an agreement with the Greek government on the historic sculptures,

Sir Keir Starmer ruled out discussing a return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece in his meeting with his Greek counterpart on Tuesday despite claims from Athens that progress had been made on the issue.

Downing Street says it won’t change the law to permit “permanent” move of ancient sculptures from the British Museum.

The issue of the Parthenon Marbles is expected to be raised by Mitsotakis when he meets his UK counterpart Sir Keir Starmer in London.

Behind-the-scenes efforts, not the meeting with Starmer, focus on the Parthenon Marbles – Greek-British relations, crucial in a critical period, must be put back on track

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Kyriakos Mitsotakis to 10 Downing St. for talks focused on migration, the war in Ukraine and efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Starmer’s office said the fate of the marbles was not on the British leader’s agenda.

UK officials hinted Tuesday that a deal was in the works with Greece to end a decades-long dispute over the highly contested and priceless Parthenon Marbles.A spokesman for Starmer later indicated that the UK government would not stand in the way of any agreement between Greece and the British Museum to end the centuries-old saga.

UK law prevents the British Museum from permanently returning the sculptures to Greece. Talks are reportedly underway about a long-term loan, but the government has said it will not change the law to enable their permanent removal.