The Latest Breaking News from the British Museum

Greece has welcomed the return of ancient artifacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago

Other lives: Researcher and lecturer who wrote 14 books about ancient near eastern history

Collection at the British Museum is protected by law

The 1963 British Museum Act stops the institution from giving away items in its collection. Rishi Sunak has said he has no intention of changing the law to allow the sculptures to be returned.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ruled out changing a law which prohibits the British Museum handing the Parthenon marbles permanently back to Greece. Sunak said there are no plans to amend the legislation, which states the museum can only dispose of objects within its collection in limited circumstances. However, the…

PM says British Museum collection is funded by taxpayers and protected by law

Greece has been disappointed once again after the Prime Minister refused a law change which would return the Elgin Marbles after they were taken from Athens' Parthenon Temple in the 19th century

Athens has long demanded the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from Greece by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century.

The return of the British Museum's Elgin Marbles to Greece is possible even if the two sides cannot come to an agreement