Rishi Sunak cancels meeting with Greek leader over Elgin Marbles row

The Government's position is that the Elgin Marbles are part of and owned by the British Museum's permanent collection, a senior Conservative source said Photo: MATHEW FEARN/PA

Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister after a diplomatic row over the future of Elgin Marbles erupted.

Mr Sunak was determined to do so. meet Kyrgios Mitsotakis in Downing Street for wide-ranging talks on migration and other topics, but pulled out at the last minute.

The Telegraph understands the British prime minister was frustrated after the Greek leader publicly lobbied for a change in the UK government's position on marbles on the BBC on Sunday.

One senior government source said: «It's a matter of respect»

Mr Sunak is believed to have personally canceled the meeting.

Instead, the Greek leader is now expected to meet Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister.

A senior Conservative source said: “This meeting was made impossible by the comments about the Elgin marbles that preceded it.

“Our position is clear: the Elgin Marbles are part of and belong to the British Museum's permanent collection. It is foolhardy for any British politician to suggest that this issue is negotiable.»

Sources familiar with the Greek Prime Minister's itinerary said he was officially informed at 6pm on Monday that the meeting was cancelled, but an hour earlier he learned that it was going to be cancelled, around the same time he was meeting with Sir Keir Starmer and the Labor delegation will discuss Labour's views on returning the sculptures to Athens.

Sources said Downing Street had not given an official reason for canceling the meeting and that Mr Mitsotakis was «baffled» by the decision.< /p>

He has softened his demands on the Parthenon sculptures since his last visit to Britain, when he told Boris Johnson that Britain had stolen them and should return them.

He has now parked the issue of the Parthenon sculptures. property and wanted to talk about the loan deal that Sir Keir had proposed.

Greek sources said Mr Mitsotakis was prepared to «build on» proposals to control migration but now suggests comments he made about the Elgin marbles ahead of the proposed meeting upset Mr Sunak.

The Greek Prime Minister's spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is disappointed that Prime Minister Sunak canceled their bilateral meeting at the 11th hour. Greece and the UK have a very deep history of friendship and cooperation, and the Greek government is extremely surprised by this decision.

“The Prime Minister looked forward to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest, including the Israel-Gaza conflict, illegal Russia's invasion of Ukraine, climate change, as well as general issues such as migration, and, of course, the Parthenon sculptures.»