Sunak hits back at Greek PM in Elgin Marbles row, warns return would be 'slippery slope'

Sign up to receive the e -mail View from Westminster for expert analysis straight to your inboxReceive our free View from Westminster emailPlease enter a valid email addressPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to receive offers, events and updates by email updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak canceled meeting with Greek PM because he broke 'assurances' not to use UK visit to focus on marbles of Elgin, Number 10 said. A meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis was unexpectedly canceled after he spoke about the marbles – known as the Parthenon sculptures – that he wants travel to Athens from the British Museum.

As the extraordinary conflict deepened, Downing Street rejected the idea of ​​a loan deal for the Elgin Marbles – warning it was a “slippery slope” that could encourage the return of more artifacts from British museums to other countries.

Mr. Mitsotakis expressed anger that the meeting during his visit to London had been canceled – during which he planned to raise the possibility of a loan deal so that the Parthenon sculptures could return to Athens.

The Greek government described the snub as “unprecedented” and said it had hurt Greek pride. "Greece is a proud country, with a long history... You can't just say 'look, the meeting won't take place'," a spokesperson said.

The door The spokesperson also said that British public opinion had shifted in favor of Athens on the issue. “Obviously that annoyed Sunak, because when you have a difference of opinion it doesn’t mean you don’t go ahead with a meeting.”

But Mr Sunak's official spokesman insisted the Greek government had provided "assurances" that Mr Mitsotakis would not use the visit as "a platform". public form to relaunch long-settled issues."

The head of Number 10 added: "Given that these assurances have not been respected, the Prime Minister considered that it would not be not productive to hold a meeting dominated by this issue. »

Mr Sunak's spokesman said Athens was “welcome” to make its position on the marbles known – but said “these conversations are best held in private”.

The Independentunderstands Number 10 was angry at Mr Mitsotakis' fiery nature. answers to questions from BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg, rather than her decision to appear on the show.