Andy Burnham, who previously advocated for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, has reportedly reversed his position. During his time as Culture Secretary between 2008 and 2009, Burnham was reportedly a champion of their return, and in 2002, he sponsored a private member's bill to facilitate their transfer.
As recently as 2023, while Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham stated, "Send them back, no strings attached. And let’s use culture to change how Britain is seen around the world." However, he has now reportedly changed his stance.
The debate over the Parthenon marbles continues, with talks reportedly at a stalemate. The British Museum is lending two minor Parthenon fragments to a Greek sculpture exhibition opening in November in Frankfurt. This has reportedly angered Athens, leading to its refusal to lend nine fragments of the Parthenon marbles to the same exhibition.
Previous efforts to resolve the issue include George Osborne, as British Museum chair in 2022, opening negotiations with Athens. However, the Greek government rejects any arrangement that would require it to recognise the British Museum's ownership, which would necessitate a change in law. Both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have refused to change the law, with Sunak clearly wanting the marbles to remain in Britain.