The fact that Greece has called for the
return of the Elgin Marbles, stolen from them by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of
Elgin, in the early 19th century, affords the British prime minister a wonderful
opportunity (Calls for Marbles` return to help bolster Europen unity, 14/03 17).
Not only would their return act as a "symbolic act in the fight against the
dissolution of Europe", and be a conciliatory gesture at
the start of extremely difficult Brexit negotiations, it would illustrate how
May`s speech in Downing Street last July was not simply rhetoric and political
posturing. She promised then, amongst many other things based on fairness, to
act against all "burning injustice".
Unable, apparently, to persuade her
cabinet to support help for the "just about managing" in two budgets, or to
introduce legislation to get workers` representatives on all large companies`
boards, or even to support an enquiry into a very obvious "injustice" at
Orgreave during the miners` strike, May`s return of the Marbles would show, at
least, that she understands the value of diplomacy, and that she is not all
talk. Sadly, I`m not holding my breath!
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