Secret discussions have taken place between George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, and Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the contested sculptures.

Sir Keir Starmer ruled out discussing a return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece in his meeting with his Greek counterpart on Tuesday despite claims from Athens that progress had been made on the issue.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Downing Street on Tuesday, just as the British Museum confirmed it has been holding "constructive" talks with Athens.

Sir Keir Starmer is more likely than Rishi Sunak to agree to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, George Osborne has suggested. The chairman of the British Museum said that the institution was “still some distance” from an agreement with the Greek government on the historic sculptures,

The row could be raised by the Greek prime minister when he meets Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday.

Talks over the Elgin Marbles being returned to Athens from the British Museum are said to be “well advanced” ahead of the Greek prime minister’s visit.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 10 Downing Street as talks over the potential return of the Elgin Marbles to Athens continue.