As mentioned in an Earlier post [1], Andrew George MP has tabled an Early Day motion [2] regarding the continued prevarication by Britain over UNESCO mediation [3] over the Parthenon Marbles.
While not in any way an instrument of enforcement, Early Day Motions can be a handy way of identifying other like minded supporters of an issue within Parliament, as well as a reminder to others that the issue is still very much something that people feel strongly about.
[4]Andrew George MP, Chair of the Marbles Reunited campaign
From:
UK Parliament [5]
Early day motion 852
Mediation with UNESCO for the repatriation of the Parthenon SculpturesSession: 2014-15
Date tabled: 09.03.2015
Primary sponsor: George, Andrew
Sponsors:
Sanders, Adrian
Lefroy, Jeremy
Corbyn, Jeremy
Williams, Hywel
Glindon, MaryThat this House is aware that half of the Parthenon sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin 210 years ago using a flimsy legal justification during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, remain on display in the British Museum; notes that, when presented with the facts, the British public favours the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles in Athens; further notes an opinion poll conducted by YouGov in October 2014 which shows only 23 per cent of the British public think they should stay in Britain; is further aware that the British Museum has abandoned most of its conventional arguments and now advances the novel concept of a universal museum; regrets the Government’s apparent decision to reject the offer from UNESCO to mediate with the Greek government; and calls on the Government to reverse this decision and to demonstrate that Britain is prepared to express its standing in the world by engaging in a gracious act to reunite these British-held Parthenon sculptures with those now displayed in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the monument to which they belong, the Parthenon in Athens.
The following MPs have signed this motion so far:
- Abbott, Diane
- Campbell, Ronnie
- Clark, Katy
- Corbyn, Jeremy
- Flynn, Paul
- Galloway, George
- George, Andrew
- Glindon, Mary
- Godsiff, Roger
- Hancock, Mike
- Hopkins, Kelvin
- Leech, John
- Lefroy, Jeremy
- McDonnell, John
- Meale, Alan
- Sanders, Adrian
- Sharma, Virendra
- Ward, David
- Williams, Hywel
- Williams, Mark