Amend the British Museum Act to allow artefact repatriation

60
signatures
closedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportOpened 17 December 2025Closed 17 June 2026

Background

I would like for the government to reform the act, to allow the return of multiple contested items from the museum to the respective countries. For example, the Parthenon Sculptures, which were taken from Athens. The act is outdated and needs dire reform.

Additional details

As a young historian, it is imperative that the study of history and archaeology is in moral and legitimate way, which I believe is not obtainable within the limits of the act. I believe that only allowing the country in which the artefacts were taken from to 'borrow' their own culture and history is outdated and shameful. We should be working to put our own history in the British Museum rather than showing the history of others. Please, consider my plea and consider our moral obligation.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 749602.