Elgin Marbles deal still some distance away, says museum chairman

The British Museum is forbidden by law from giving away any of its artefacts.

And any potential arrangement would see it lend the Elgin Marbles back to Greece temporarily in exchange for a rolling display of other Greek artefacts.

Speaking on the Political Currency podcast, which he hosts alongside former Labour politician Ed Balls, Mr Osborne said “we made a lot of progress on that, but we’re still some distance from any kind of agreement”.

Downing Street has indicated the prime minister is unlikely to stand in the way of such a deal. But the government has no plans to change the law to allow the sculptures to be moved permanently.

The status of the sculptures has been a source of diplomatic tension between the UK and Greece for decades.

The former Greek government adviser Prof Irene Stamatoudi told the BBC on Tuesday that a deal to return the Parthenon Sculptures was “close”.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer and his Greek counterpart met for talks in Downing Street – though it is unclear whether the Elgin Marbles were discussed.

An official account of the meeting released by No 10 made no mention of them, though Greece’s public broadcaster ERT claimed they had been raised in the talks.

A Downing Street spokesperson refused to be drawn over whether or not they were brought up.