British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shifted his stance on the Parthenon Marbles, a reversal from a position he had previously expressed with notable clarity in favor of returning them to Greece.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Burnham now appears to distance himself from direct involvement by the British government, saying the future of the Marbles is a matter for the British Museum to decide.

“At the end of the day, it’s a matter for the British Museum, isn’t it?” he said. He added, however, that he remains “completely” in favor of leveraging British cultural diplomacy.

The wording marks a notable departure from his previous public positions.

From “Return Them, No Conditions” to “It’s the Museum’s Issue”

In 2023, while serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham said that George Osborne, then chairman of the British Museum, “should give them back.” In a social media post at the time, he wrote plainly: “Give them back, no conditions,” arguing that their return could strengthen British cultural diplomacy.

His position dated back even further. In 2002, as a Member of Parliament, he had backed efforts alongside colleagues to change British law to allow objects to be permanently removed from the British Museum’s collections. The relevant 1963 law still restricts the museum’s ability to permanently part with items in its collection.

His rise to prime minister had, as a result, raised expectations on the Greek side that he might take a more active role in the matter.

The British Museum Talks of “Partnership”

Meanwhile, talks between Athens and the British Museum over a possible “Parthenon partnership” are ongoing. The museum has left open the possibility of an agreement that could involve sending the Marbles to Athens as a loan, paired with a corresponding loan of Greek archaeological treasures to London.

The Greek position, however, remains that the Parthenon Marbles must return permanently to Athens.

Burnham’s new remarks come as the issue has resurfaced amid a major British Museum exhibition on the Bayeux Tapestry.

The prime minister’s apparent shift has already disappointed advocates for the Marbles’ return. Former Culture Secretary and chair of the Parthenon Project, Lord Ed Vaizey, called Burnham’s new stance “depressing,” noting that as an MP and mayor he had been “absolutely clear” in favor of their return.

While British politicians often grow more cautious once they move from opposition into government, the debate over the Marbles appears far from settled. Notably, a JL Partners poll found that 56% of Britons said they would vote in favor of returning the Marbles to Greece, compared to 22% who would prefer they stay in Britain.