AS a supporter of The British Museum – visiting it, very much appreciating it and buying items now and again from its large range of books, cards, replicas and the delicious little pyramid-shaped cakes they sell at the open cafe – I am yet a supporter of the idea of returning the Elgin Marbles to Greece. They are the spiritual crown jewels of the Parthenon in particular and that nation in general.

I am disgusted by the news of the cheap and childish behaviour of Rishi Sunak cancelling a meeting with the current Greek Prime Minister about that situation – so obviously a pre-election ploy of the con-trickself-servative “party” to keep popular with the general public. These self-evident carrots thrown to the donkey public to win favour/votes show just how low that party will go and I am heartily sick of it and their blatant soulless stupidity in this area as well as others.

READ MORE: David Pratt: Rishi Sunak's treatment of Greece is crass British nationalism

Replicas can be made in this day and age – excellent ones, so no loss there regarding the grace and beauty of the items to The British Museum and its visitors. Yes, they are the crown jewels of the museum as well, the star attraction so to speak, but this whole delicate, contentious issue is an excellent challenge to meet and resolve with soul, not with money – but with maturity and genuine recognition that they simply belong back home, in Greece. The Parthenon is naked without them, they are her children.

Likewise, the originally stolen Throne/Stone of Scone should be returned permanently to the Scots without ANY so-called legal strictures, ie royal rights and usages for English coronations. The stone cannot speak for itself so someone has to speak on its behalf – for it is a stone of conscience, which currently the selfish English establishment is currently lacking – as it has shown, and as if we need reminding...

Stones, diamonds in rings, necklaces, indeed The Black Stone inserted in the Sacred Kaaba which every Muslim wishes to touch – stones are touching base, deeply meaningful, powerful, symbolic, valuable in so many ways on so many levels beyond mere monetary concern.

Grow up, Rishi Sunak.

Charles Mugleston
Suffolk

JUST as a shot in the Weegie/Edinburger rivalry, the Lakota Indian Ghost Dance Shirt, resident in Glasgow Museums for 107 years, was returned to the Lakota Souix in September 2019. Once again Glasgow did it first but somebody has to try to claim that honour for Edinburgh (Letters, Nov 29). PS I am not a Glaswegian, but false praise, especially when it is incorrect, is no honour,

Les Hunter
Lanark

I TOTALLY agree with Professor Mandy Turner’s article in Tuesday’s National (Censorship and bias is rife when it comes to Gaza). Her resume of the BBC’s discrimination between the people of Gaza and the people of Israel is noticed profoundly in its daily report on the war.

On Tuesday morning there was an interview on BBC Scotland news with an Israeli senior army officer. His response to a question on whether Israel was bombing hospitals in Gaza was kicked off by yet another reminder of the “Hamas massacre of Israeli families and butchering of babies in their cots” before he got anywhere near to saying Israel does not bomb hospitals. The interviewee excused himself by saying that Israel only fight Hamas, who “actually take shelter in hospitals and even UN refugee camps”.

READ MORE: Palestinian mother in Scotland ‘helpless’ as daughter trapped in Gaza

Professor Mandy Turner goes on to remind us of the expressed bias against Gaza where every news report tells us, in detail, about the Israeli hostage release always in front of the afterthought about Gaza “prisoners” in Israeli jails. No names, no identity as to whether male or female, or families in waiting. Gaza is not important. Israel is important.

I read recently of the BBC reporters who submitted a complaint to the BBC about themselves being put on the spot and not being allowed to report as they see, everyday, the situation in the Gaza Strip, and from the point of view of the fleeing occupants or those trying to return to their bombed-out homes.

I’m glad I have the National, at least, to be able to read some semblance of the truth as to what is really going on in the world as well as in this so-called United Kingdom.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

AS a member of the SNP of many years standing, I am writing to express my concerns at the conduct of Mr Matheson, our Health Secretary. It is my belief that any member of government who has the slightest question mark against them, especially a financial one, should resign immediately.

I am a long-term SNP member, and there are thousands of us who have tramped the streets in all weathers canvassing and leafleting. We expect that when we are successful, those who are elected will behave with dignity and honesty. We are facing troubled times in the independence movement. Mr Matheson’s continued presence in office only makes our situation worse. For all our sakes,

Mr Matheson, go now.

Colin R Stevenson
Strachur, Argyll