Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George has recently become involved with the case for the return of the Parthenon Marbles & as a starting point has tabled and Early Day Motion highlighting some new aspects of the case. Previous posts on EDMs explain the purpose of Early Day Motions.

From:
Parliamentary Information Management Web Site

EDM 1140
EARLY DAY MOTION
RESTITUTION OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

14.03.2007
George, Andrew

That this House is pleased to acknowledge the planned opening, later this year, of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens which clearly demonstrates the capacity of the Greek authorities to receive and satisfactorily install those marbles from the Parthenon which were, in the past, removed in previous periods, including the so-called Elgin Marbles; notes that the principles of the restitution of museum items is now well established, which includes the British Museum’s return of Aboriginal remains to Australia under the Human Tissue Act and a number of fragments from the Parthenon and the Acropolis to Greece from collections in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere; believes that the opening of the New Acropolis Museum will give the British Museum a golden opportunity to demonstrate its goodwill towards the project; and calls on the Government to work with the British Museum to open negotiations with the Greek authorities to arrange for the proper restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens.

The following MPs have signed this EDM so far:

1. George, Andrew
2. O’Hara, Edward
3. Llwyd, Elfyn
4. Davies, Dai
5. Williams, Hywel
6. Price, Adam
7. Prentice, Gordon
8. Simpson, Alan
9. Jones, Lynne
10. Breed, Colin
11. Corbyn, Jeremy
12. Cryer, Ann
13. Wyatt, Derek
14. MacNeil, Angus
15. Sanders, Adrian
16. Laws, David
17. Lepper, David
18. Etherington, Bill
19. Flynn, Paul
20. Gibson, Ian
21. Hopkins, Kelvin
22. McCafferty, Chris
23. Meale, Alan
24. Caton, Martin
25. Clapham, Michael
26. Dismore, Andrew
27. Hancock, Mike
28. Campbell, Ronnie
29. Efford, Clive
30. Vis, Rudi
31. Anderson, David
32. Leech, John
33. Williams, Mark
34. Illsley, Eric
35. Harris, Evan
36. Marris, Rob
37. Moffatt, Laura
38. Clark, Katy
39. Hemming, John
40. Willis, Phil
41. Soulsby, Peter