Marbles under Scots Law

Published on Wednesday 16 July 2008 20:48

I was rather bemused that Tom Minogue (Letters, 15 July) first of all disagrees with my suggestion that the SNP government is guilty of hypocrisy in relation to the Elgin or Parthenon Marbles, but then goes on to encapsulate my argument rather eloquently. If it was his intention merely to state that the SNP are not alone among politicians in displaying such duplicity, then I readily agree, but that in itself does not mean that the cynicism of Alex Salmond's government should not be e

The Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Athens as soon as reasonably practicable, and I am somewhat surprised that Mr Minogue has sought to justify the government's position, rather than standing four square behind John A K Huntley's innovative suggestion that the Law of Scotland should have jurisdiction in determining whether Elgin acted legally in removing the marbles from their original location, and ultimately to sell these for personal gain.

BILL GOODALL

Baird Terrace

Edinburgh