Rishi Sunak decided to scrap talks with his Greek counterpart after it was felt a reassurance to avoid focusing on the Elgin Marbles was “not adhered to”, Downing Street said.
A meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday was unexpectedly cancelled after he spoke publicly about wanting the ancient artefacts, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, returned to Athens from the British Museum.
