I have already mentioned Keir Starmer and foreign policy in one blog post this morning, and now I must do it again.
The Greek Prime Minister is, apparently, in London this morning and will be meeting Keir Starmer. The so-called Elgin marbles are not, supposedly, on the agenda, but anybody who thinks that means the issue will be ignored must be as deluded about Anglo-Greek relationships as Rachel Reeves is about macroeconomic policy.
After fourteen years of Tory intransigence on this issue, and growing awareness of the need for the UK to put its colonial past behind it, this is surely the moment when Starmer can really indicate that he understands why there might be places in the world that have reason to be upset about the UK's past actions, and our continuing defence of them.
If he so wished, this could be the moment where he could indicate that change might just be on the agenda with regard to such issues, and offer the unconditional return of this looted property to Greece, where the marbles rightly belong.
But will he?
Please don't hold your breath.
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Since our Establishment is based on taking, Starmer will not wish to upset them by conceding this point and giving something back.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Starmer to showcase the joys of technology, innovation and “Great British Science” & “Great British Diplomacy”. (It even includes some “cakeism”!)
Scan the marbles, then 3D print them, and/or create holographic images, with the replicas for display in the Keir Starmer gallery of the British Museum and occasional despatch on the occasional tour of provinces to keep the proles happy.. Hand the originals back to Greece. Photo opportunities, great moment in history, a “difficult decision” bravely and forensically faced.
Of course he’d have to check with Ni*** Fa***e first, maybe that’s what he was doing the other day in parliament? Did he get permission?
The UK should return them… and if we are to do so it needs to be a simple straightforward act of goodwill. There should be no negotiation/discussion/quid pro quo… we should just do it.
How did the government end up with the Elgin Marbles in the first place?
Did the Earl of Elgin use them to pay inheritance tax?
They passed to the state within years of Elgin acquiring them as I udnerstand it (but I have not read this for a couple of years now).